Finland a reliable partner for Vietnam

Finland and Vietnam are expanding ties in sustainable development. Pekka Voutilainen, Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam, writes about accelerating the Southeast Asian nation's smart urban future with Finland's digital expertise.

- Pekka Voutilainen, Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam

Vietnam's transformation is unfolding at an extraordinary pace. Cities are expanding, transport systems are evolving, and digital infrastructure is becoming as essential as roads, ports, and power networks.

As the country moves towards its ambition of becoming a high-income economy by 2045, one shift is becoming increasingly evident: the next phase of growth will be defined not only by scale, but by intelligence.

Digitalisation is no longer a supporting tool - it is becoming the foundation for competitiveness and long-term resilience. It shapes how cities function, how industries operate, and how infrastructure delivers value over time, while supporting Vietnam's broader goals in digital transformation, green growth, and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

From Finland's perspective, this journey feels both familiar and full of opportunity. Over several decades, we have seen how sustained investment in digital capabilities can transform economies and societies. What Finland brings to Vietnam is technology and experience in turning digital ambition into practical, scalable outcomes that improve everyday life.

At the same time, digitalisation does not stand alone. Its true value is realised when embedded into physical systems such as urban infrastructure, logistics networks, industrial facilities, and energy systems. This is where engineering and project delivery models, including engineering, procurement, and construction, play a crucial role.

By nature, Finns are problem solvers with the mind of an engineer and in Finland, digitalisation and engineering have evolved hand in hand, ensuring that infrastructure is built to be smart, efficient, and future-ready.