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Oct 24, 2019 / 19:05

Smart city development is an inevitable trend in Vietnam: Deputy Minister

Many localities in Vietnam have approved and kicked off smart urban development projects.

Smart city will be a choice for Vietnam to speed up its digital economy transformation in the next decade, thus, it is an inevitable trend in urban development, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications (MIC) Phan Tam said at the Smart City Summit 2019 in Da Nang on October 23.

The Vietnamese government has issued a scheme for sustainable smart city development and the Politburo, the country's highest decision-making body, has recently issued a resolution on a number of guidelines and policies for Vietnam to join the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and set targets for smart city development in the country by 2030, Tam said.
 
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam speaks at the summit. Photo: Quang Hai
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam speaks at the summit. Photo: Quang Hai
So far, many localities have approved and kicked off smart urban development projects, Tam noted.

For his part, Truong Gia Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Software and Information Technology Services Association (VINASA), said the core of a smart city is smart infrastructure, or data infrastructure. 

Every sector must have complete and updated database. Data infrastructure must be taken into consideration when authorities work out regulations and standards. "Good data infrastructure will facilitate the proper functioning of public agencies and businesses, as well as lead to citizens' satisfaction," Binh said.

He added that the Industrial Revolution 4.0 implies effective use of data. "No investment is as smart and effective as smart city investment," Binh emphasized.

"It is imperative and very urgent. We have a good opportunity to catch up with the world in the trend of rapid digitization. The Vietnamese government should create favorable conditions for companies that invest in big data, digital platforms and infrastructure," Binh said.

He also stressed that people, businesses and local governments must be involved in building smart cities, and serving the people has to be a focus of smart city development.

The Smart City Summit 2019 took place with the participation of more than 500 delegates. Held annually since 2017, the event aims to provide a venue for experts to share strategic visions and experiences on building smart cities.

Also on the occasion, the MIC and VINASA presented certificates to the top 50 leading IT businesses in Vietnam, and the top ten Industry 4.0 readied firms.