Encouraging OVs to ‘give back’ to national development

At the seminar, Nghiem Vu Khai, vice chair of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, suggested the foundation could serve as an avenue for the tens of thousands of OVs intellectuals working in science, education and business to give back either ‘virtually or physically’.

They represent an invaluable resource for the country, said Khai, noting they provide a fresh, unique and different perspective that is needed in the public, private and social sectors to help stimulate innovative and creative ideas.

A foundation could serve to network OVs students and scientists with their domestic counterparts and act as a vehicle to connect domestic profit oriented companies with foreign business partners and investors, Khai added.

In recent years, Vietnamese expats have made significant contribution to the national development, Khai added. On average, roughly 300 OVs students and scientists physically return home to give back and work on various economic and social projects.