LookAtVietnam – Last year, the Vietnamese mechanical industry exported US$2 billion in goods - a big step, but still far behind other regional countries.

A worker at Machinery Joint-stock Company No 1 checks a rice harvesting machine. The Vietnamese mechanical industry is lagging behind other countries in the region as the sector needs more investment and skilled workers.

On the other hand, statistics show that imports of mechanical goods, including cars, agricultural equipment and tools, last year reached $20.6 billion - and in the first six months of this year $12.9 billion.

This was 60 per cent of local demand. The other 40 per cent was made by Vietnamese manufacturers.

“While technology contributes a large part to the success of companies, Vietnamese businesses far behind their regional competitors,” said vice president of the Vietnamese Mechanics Association Nguyen Viet Hung.

Official research into Viet Nam’s potential to make equipment for nuclear power conducted last year showed that only three units had any degree of competence. The rest were classed as either bad or lacking in vital quality controls.

In addition, lack of co-operation between businesses and shortage of skilled labour meant much of what was made was of low quality.

A report by the Ministry of Science and Technology last year said that mechanics accounted for 65 per cent of highly skilled labour.

However, most of this skilled labour force was over 45 and mainly trained in old technologies learned 20 years ago in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training show that today, about 37,000 students are studying at 80 universities and colleges, but most will need further training if they are to be of use.

“Technology is changing every day. How can we developed advanced technologies when we have no advanced leaders in the field?” asked Hung.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao said the Government would invest more in industry to help overcome the management shortage.

At a meeting in Ha Noi last week to discuss the advancement of technology and mechanical engineering for the next 10 years, he suggested that companies should try and develop the domestic market, which he described as big and promising.

“Much land is available if they [businesses] spend time to study the right strategy,” Hao said.

Hung suggested that in the meantime, the Government should focus on sending students to developed countries to study new technologies.

He also suggested companies help set up research centres to work on new equipment for renewable energy.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Banh Tien Long said the ministry would invest more to support key universities and colleges to build workshops and equipment to train students in the mechanical opportunities in agriculture, transport, shipping and construction to meet rising demand.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News