Expatriate Vietnamese participating in a landmark conference agree on one thing: though they have knowledge and intellectual skills to offer the country, . . .

President Nguyen Minh Triet (centre) and VK conference participants.

The Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) participants called on the Government to establish both mechanisms that will attract the economic and mental resources the expatriates have to offer and an organization to provide information and support to overseas Vietnamese coming to the country to work.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien admitted that existing policies are not attractive enough. Jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tien said, his ministry has submitted to the Prime Minister a plan to attract and encourage overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals, he said.

The plan spells out measures and policies to attract experts, encourage overseas Vietnamese to invest in activities involving transfer and application of technologies, and teach Vietnamese language and culture to young Vietnamese expatriates. Tien added that a database on Vietnamese expatriates living around the world is being set up.

If the plan is adopted, the deputy minister said, two programs providing preferential treatments, salaries, and employment terms for Viet kieu will be piloted and an annual forum will be held with overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to advise the Government on policies.

Nguyen Canh Son, vice chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Business Association, said the cumulative income of overseas Vietnamese is US$50-60 billion, and they have invested $2 billion in the country.

The association, which was formed at a meeting in Hanoi in August, will help local and overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs meet, exchange business information, and collaborate, Son added.

Pham Van Thanh, chairman of the Association of Overseas Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Canada, said there may not be many overseas Vietnamese millionaires but there are many with assets of $500,000 or more who want to buy houses or run small businesses in Vietnam. Many Viet kieu want to return home to live but hesitate because the Government does not have concrete policies to encourage them to return, he said.

Canh added that Viet kieu are wary of an investment environment that remains risky and complex due to the myriad administrative procedures. To encourage them to invest in the country, he said, the Government should ensure they can repatriate their money if they decide to leave.

Some delegates emphasized the Government should not only announce policies — like creating favourable conditions for Viet kieu to buy houses, scrapping superfluous procedures, and implementing a “single door” policy – but also ensure they are scrupulously implemented.

VietNamNet/SGGP/(Bao Minh)