Chairman Phan Ngoc Tho delivering his speech at the conference
In delivering the opening speech, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Ngoc Tho emphasized that the Roundtable of Digital Transformation (DT) was held in the context of the Province’s focusing on constructing and developing Thua Thien Hue into a centrally managed municipality, on the basis of preserving and promoting the heritage values of the Ancient Capital and the cultural identity of Hue, with unique characteristics of culture, heritage, ecology, landscape, environmental friendliness and intelligence. Tourism is the economic spearhead, Information and Communications Technology is the breakthrough, and industry and high-tech agriculture are the foundation.
Thua Thien Hue is seeking development strategies appropriate to the goal of turning the Province into a center with developed IT sector, planning a strategy for innovative start-ups, in which, developing Science and Technology Enterprises is considered as the breakthrough. At the same time, this involves taking advantage of existing strengths and foundations to develop the creative economy and the circular economy associated with local characteristics, promoting the development of cultural industries and creative industries with local platforms, as well as connecting with external resources, following the trend of integration.
Supporting businesses with applications of digital transformation
Mr. Cung Trong Cuong, Director of Thua Thien Hue Institute for Development Studies, said that since 2020, the Province had issued a plan to implement the provincial DT program until 2025, with the overall goal being developing a digital government, building a digital society, and developing a digital economy with all sectors. Smart city services have been deployed with the goal of "People-centered development; Enterprises being the driving force and the Government being tectonic.”
Mr. Duong Tuan Anh, Chairman of the Provincial Business Association, said that many enterprises had implemented DT so far, and that had brought about high efficiency in management, production management, cost reduction, labor resources, investment and trade promotion, etc. However, about one third of the total 5,500 enterprises in the Province were still ambiguous about the concept of "DT". These enterprises were facing some barriers, including lack of digital skills and human resources (17%), lack of IT platforms for DT (16.7%), lack of digital thinking (15.7%), etc.
“With the majority of enterprises being small and medium-sized, it is necessary to provide them with information, training and especially financial support to make DT timely, avoiding any waste. In addition, it is recommended that enterprises should find out in advance if DT is suitable for the characteristics of their businesses. Also, the provincial authority should hold workshops to help businesses acquire a better understanding of what to do when making DT and instruct them how to make applications of DT in the fastest and most effectively way. At the same time, it is essential to introduce the DT applications, reputable support packages, as well as DT partners to small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Mr. Duong Tuan Anh.
Regarding turning Ho Chi Minh City into a smart city with DT, Mr. Phi Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association, said that the city set the goal of becoming a smart city by 2030, with fundamental and comprehensive innovations in the operation of the digital government apparatus and digital enterprises, as well as in the prosperity and civilization of a digital society. Ho Chi Minh City would focus on training DT in state agencies and enterprises, propagating to enhance the participation of people and businesses, improving data infrastructure and IoT infrastructure, developing and completing application software, as well as connecting and sharing information and data, etc.
Turning challenges into opportunities
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After listening to the exchange of the enterprises, Chairman Phan Ngoc Tho said that Thua Thien Hue identified "DT is both an opportunity and a challenge", which was also the theme of this DT week. The success of today's dialogue program was to seek solutions to support businesses in the DT and co-development work.
The Province will select 100 enterprises to organize introductory, educating and training programs on DT, which help businesses to make the fastest and most effective application. After the conference, the related units should start working immediately to specify the determined tasks and solutions.
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that businesses must take into account two factors: people and data. The Province will focus on developing the basic foundations for building e-government, following the e-government architecture, and strengthening the connection among applications that serve people and businesses in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations and service quality of Government administrative apparatus.
To accomplish the above-mentioned objectives, the Province will promote propagating practices, which involves raising awareness of DT and enhancing interaction with people and businesses; strengthening the cooperative relationship between state agencies and enterprises, especially in the provision of public services; encouraging enterprises to introduce and provide digital products and services, etc., attracting IT resources; fostering cooperative relationship with businesses, schools and institutes in building e-government, heading towards a digital government.
Story and photos: THAI BINH