New Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop talked with VietNamNet about the topic “building the communications economy in the environment of the WTO”.

As the head of the new Ministry of Information and Communications, which oversees seven fields –press, publication, publishing, printing, information technology, post and telecommunications – which are developing at very high speeds, do you feel pressure?

Frankly, I’m not trained in post and telecommunications or information technology but once I’m assigned to assume this post, I have to make use of all knowledge and experience to take action. I will soon start the job and I will try my best to fulfill my missions.

Important things in a leader are self-control, self-confidence and responsibility to choose directions, encourage those under him to show their creativeness, liberate the workforce, assemble all forces, dare to think and dare to do and if he does that, he will surely succeed.

Do you have any ideas for the new post?

Now I attach the most importance to quickly stabilising the machinery, finalising the working mechanism and policies, defining the focal tasks, and then assigning, centralising and supervising to speed up the working pace.

I think that the talent that I need most at this moment is gathering all talents of my employees to fulfill missions together. The most important role of the leader is gathering everybody around him to perform the assigned missions.

Information and communications are the most vanguard, most sensitive missions. In general, the information and communications sector must operate under the following motto: unity, intellect, renovation, integration, and development.

The press has recently mentioned the concept “communications economics”. What do you think about this?

Communications economics is developing in the world. Big countries like the US have used communications as a tool to expand their influence in the world. In Asia, the Republic of Korea has invested much in communications economics. Korean films broadcast in Vietnam have advertised this country’s products and services and helped them gradually infiltrate new markets, including Vietnam.

Communications is also the best tool to advertising products of the people and this approach enables the economy to open and rise. So Vietnam needs to build its communications economics.

Building a communications economy means the acceptance of competition?

Vietnam has become a WTO member so we have to seriously realise that communications is an economic sector, even a key one, so competition is a fact.

Healthy competition will help improve the quality of communications. Without state subsidies, press agencies and communications organisations will have to seek to sell their products and compete under the market rules so they will have to convince the public that their products are good.

You have said that “information and communications are the most vanguard fields”. So how do we help communications realise its vanguard role?

The state needs to make a wide enough and transparent enough legal corridor for the development of communications businesses. At the same time, press agencies and communications organisations must learn new techniques of world communications.

To bring into play its vanguard role, the communications sector must take initiative in introducing its products to the world to seek international recognition.

The fact in other countries shows that they have greatly invested in communications technology. The development strategy of communications is changing very rapidly along with the change of technology so communications firms must invest in the most modern and latest technology and equipment. In many countries, the state coordinates communications while companies make the contents.

An open and competitive communications sector will bring great benefits for the government, the people and communications agencies as well. The government will gradually reduce funding for the press. Non-state agencies can help diffuse the government’s points of view, policies. The people can freely choose information they need. In addition, the media is the best means of advertising products of all economic sectors. This way of approach allows the economy to open its door comprehensively.

What is the role of information technology in developing a communications industry?

Information technology is the foundation for developing a modern communications sector. Information technology is always a significant tool for all economies. In the current trend of development of communications, information technology will be the mean for communications to renovate itself everyday.

Press freedom is an issue of great concern not only in Vietnam but in other countries, what is your point of view about it?

To bring into full play the power of press, freedom is needed. However, freedom doesn’t mean anarchism. Every freedom must have a limit. That’s why we need the management role of the state. Press freedom is also under that rule. If press freedom causes division and harms the prestige, honour of the country and national brand, that freedom must be controlled.

Source: VietnamNet.