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and cybersecurity. The OECD (2019) emphasizes the requirement to develop "trustworthy
AI" based on principles of transparency, accountability, and safety. According to the
technology governance framework, sustainable innovation is achieved only when there is
a balance between promoting creativity and controlling risks. Therefore, “responsible AI”
becomes the institutional foundation to ensure AI serves the public interest and mitigates
social consequences. Digital trust is a prerequisite for the development of the digital
economy. When users do not trust data security and algorithmic fairness, the level of
participation in digital transactions will decline. Establishing technical standards,
monitoring mechanisms, and regulatory sandboxes helps strengthen trust and reduce
transaction costs (OECD, 2019). Thus, trust governance is not an auxiliary factor but a
central component of the digital economy development strategy in the AI era.
2.3. Research methodology
This study employs a qualitative approach based on a case study combined with
document analysis and secondary data to clarify the mechanisms of digital economic
development in the AI era through the case of Singapore, thereby deriving policy
implications for Vietnam.
The choice of Singapore as a case study is justified by several factors: (i) Singapore’s
proactive and comprehensive approach to integrating AI into its national digital economy
strategy, exemplified by the National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0) launched in 2023 (Smart
Nation Singapore, 2023); (ii) The availability of robust and recent data demonstrating clear
digital economic growth outcomes and AI adoption rates during the 2024–2025 period
(Infocomm Media Development Authority, 2025a; IMDA Press Release, 2025) and (iii)
Singapore’s established reputation as a global leader in digital innovation and governance,
offering valuable lessons for developing economies like Vietnam (Smart Nation Singapore,
2023).
Data sources and collection: Primary data sources include official policy documents
such as the National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0), the Singapore Digital Economy Report
2025 and various reports from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Besides, macroeconomic indicators and AI adoption rates were collected from
authoritative publications by IMDA and Smart Nation Singapore.
Analytical Methods: (i) Official policy documents and reports were systematically
reviewed to identify key strategies, initiatives, and policy mechanisms related to Singapore’s
AI and digital economy development. This involved thematic analysis to extract core themes
and underlying policy logic; (ii) Quantitative data on digital economic performance and AI
adoption were analyzed to substantiate the qualitative findings and demonstrate the impact
of Singapore’s strategies and (iii) The Singaporean model was critically compared with the
Vietnamese context, considering institutional differences, economic structures, and
implementation capacities, to formulate context-sensitive policy implications.
This methodology allows for an in-depth understanding of the complex interplay
between policy design, technological adoption, and economic outcomes, focusing on
explanatory power rather than statistical representativeness
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Current state and growth drivers of Singapore’s digital economy (2024–2025)
The 2024-2025 period marks a significant consolidation of the digital economy’s role
in Singapore's growth structure. According to the Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025,
the value added (VA) of the digital economy reached SGD 128.1 billion in 2024, equivalent
to 18.6% of GDP, up from 18.0% in 2023 and 14.9% in 2019 (Infocomm Media

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