Ex-Bosch Vietnam CEO maps out path for Ho Chi Minh City to become a high-tech hub

Vo Quang Hue, former CEO of Bosch Vietnam, a subsidiary of the German global technology and services provider Bosch Group, made the recommendation in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on the sidelines of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City from October 26 to 29.

Hue, also a former deputy general director of Vietnam's largest private conglomerate Vingroup, said Vietnamese engineers, particularly young ones, are capable of undertaking advanced R&D projects across industries, but small and medium-sized enterprises often lack the financial resources to sustain long-term research.

R&D should produce competitive 'Make in Vietnam' products that serve domestic demand and can be exported, contributing to the country's economic growth, he said.

Hue called for government support for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly for R&D projects in key sectors that Ho Chi Minh City aims to develop.

He cited Germany's tax incentives, under which businesses can deduct R&D expenses at double or triple their actual value, and Singapore's approach of proactively informing startups about relevant regulations and available incentives.

Such measures could encourage R&D investment and help build a business-friendly public administration that attracts investors, he said.

Hue also called for stronger cooperation among universities, research institutes and businesses, with partnerships extended to foreign universities and international experts involved in major national projects to strengthen local R&D capacity.

Echoing Hue's view, Pham Phu Truong, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said connecting with major global technology hubs requires understanding what the world has to offer and what Vietnam needs.

This could create natural opportunities for business cooperation, Truong said, adding that the forum had invited speakers from France and Singapore to discuss how technology diplomacy could facilitate the cross-border exchange of knowledge and technological applications.

To attract talent and ideas, particularly from overseas Vietnamese experts, Ho Chi Minh City must provide a good living environment, supportive business policies and a sufficiently developed technology market, he said.

Truong added that improvements to the investment environment, the removal of development bottlenecks, regulatory sandboxes and startup support could help attract technology businesses and skilled professionals.