Engineering
industry hindered by skills, capital shortage
The
engineering industry in Vietnam is driving productivity with benefits across
the economy, says the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).
However, the
gap between the supply and demand for people with the requisite engineering
skills is still far too large and has triggered widespread concern for the
long-term future of industrial development.
A recently
concluded industry analysis report by the MOITs Institute for Industrial
Policy and Strategy Studies showed the domestic sector currently has the
capacity to fill only about 20% of demand, with foreign engineers dominating
the industry.
In addition,
it showed that a doubling of the number of engineering and technology and
other related local graduates who are known to be prime candidates for
entering engineering occupations after graduation is essential.
Nguyen Quynh
Van of the MOIT has said: Engineering is a growth industry that has great potential
to drive productivity in Vietnam. However, the MOIT is deeply concerned about
the need to train many more local engineering graduates if the nation is not
to be left behind others in the region.
Mr Van also voiced concern that the domestic
engineering sector is far to undercapitalized.
He cited
MOIT statistics that showed that there are only 14,800 domestic sector
engineering firms in the country, and further, that they possess virtually no
capital to speak of.
In fact, he
said, the statistics showed that only 100 of the domestic sector engineering
firms possessed at least US$22.5 million of capital, which if extrapolated
out means there is only roughly US$225 million of capital sector wide.
It is indispensable
the government clarify preferential loans policies for the engineering
industry, said Mr Van. At a minimum the government should provide engineering
firms access to guaranteed loans with interest rates at 3% or below per annum
over loan periods of 10-15 years.
In addition,
the government should give effect to policies providing funds for investing
in activities such as hiring specialists, acquiring computer software and
other cutting edge technology.
Nguyen Van
Thu, chair of Vietnam Association of Mechanical Industry, added: These
capital shortages are compounded by insufficient numbers of young people,
most notably girls, choosing a career in engineering.
The country
needs more people with the right skills to be confident that economic growth is
on the right track and sustainable, he lamented.
Currently,
he noted, the MOIT has set goals to meet over 50% of demand for engineering
by 2025 and 60% by 2035, pointing out these goals are simply unattainable
unless and until more financial support is forthcoming.
It is also
time the country’s economic priorities are better reflected in the education
system and that science and technology subjects are more highly promoted to
more than just the obvious candidates.
We need to
fundamentally change the way engineering is perceived and make it more
attractive and accessible to more students by championing the creative
aspects of the discipline and the fundamentally vital role engineers play in
society, Mr Thu concluded.
VOV
|
Thứ Ba, 25 tháng 10, 2016
Đăng ký:
Đăng Nhận xét (Atom)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét