Hanoi (VNA) – The World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEFASEAN), slated for September 11-13 in Hanoi, will offer a chance for countriesto share experience in utilising opportunities and addressing challengesgenerated by the fourth Industrial Revolution.

Chargé d'Affaires of the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam Tan Wei Ming said the event’stheme “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the fourth Industrial Revolution” matchesthe priorities of the WEF and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).

ASEAN can adapt to new conditions, he said, suggesting theten-member group equip its residents with skills and knowledge and improve thequality of human resources among its member nations.

Besides, ASEAN should focus on innovation and self-resiliance tomeet the requirements of the fourth Industrial Revolution and a changing world,apply new technologies and ensure that none are left behind during development,the diplomat said.

ASEAN is the world’s sixth largest economy with a combinedpopulation of 630 million, of whom 260 million are internet users. The numberis expected to climb to 480 million in 2020.

About 60 percent of Vietnam’s 93-million population areunder 35 years old and able to quickly access new technologies, with 55 percentof the population internet users.

The country is striving to become one of the top ten softwareoutsourcing providers in the world, with about 1 million labourers in the information-technologysector.

Google and Temasek Foundation International forecast that theinternet economy of Southeast Asia will hit200 billion USD by 2025, equivalent to 6 percent of regional GDP.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested governmentsof ASEAN countries and businesses focus on self-resilience and seek newsolutions to adapt to a world driven by new technologies.

Vietnam is gearing towards sustainable development through improving growth quality andutilising opportunities of the fourth Industrial Revolution to improveproductivity and competitiveness, moving higher up the global value chain, hesaid.

Phan Hoang Lan, head of the Department of Market Development andScience-Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, listed severalmechanisms and policies approved and issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc to support startups.

She gave the example of a decision to support the nationalinnovative startup ecosystem under which most of the startups focus oninformation and communication technology (ICT) and IT in general.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated about 56percent of labourers in the five ASEAN member countries of Malaysia, Indonesia,the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are facing the risk ofbeing replaced by new technologies in the next two decades.

Justin Wood, head of the Asia-Pacific region of the WEF, toldVietnam News Agency the fourth Industrial Revolution will impact all countriesworldwide at different levels.

He said low production costs and cheap labour will no longer aidthe competitiveness of countries like Vietnam, suggesting these nationsprove their competitiveness in other spheres.

The WEF ASEAN 2018 is expected to feature 60 discussions, focusingon issues regarding governments, businesses and residents in ASEAN amidst thefourth Industrial Revolution.-VNA