Hanoi considers smart technology solutions the major solution to enhance state governance capability and help the city adress current issues, according to Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.
Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.
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Chung added Hanoi aims for greater access to digital services for its citizens and realize the potential of technologies through various ways, including the utilization of digital services, e-document, and encouraging the use of digital technologies in citizens.
Hanoi is now home to 3,530 technology companies which generate revenue of VND244.26 trillion (US$10.44 billion) in 2018, indicating the capital’s effort in attracting major technology companies for the goal of building a smart city.
Hanoi would continue the reform effort to become the first city with open policy for the development of the business community, he stressed.
Overview of the forum.
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Lu Thanh Long, CEO of accounting software developer MISA, said over 400,000 micro companies and 5 million business households in Vietnam do not use accounting software. Long said a software called Startbooks would help small and micro enterprises compile tax and financial reports with a fee of nearly US$100 per month.
Local technology companies are capable of solving the country’s specific issues that foreign companies are not able to, Long stated, adding they could master and integrated the latest technologies such as Blockchain, AI, machine learning, among others into their products.
Chairman of CMC Group Nguyen Trung Chinh said enterprises must use technologies to connect with digital economy.
According to Chinh, the challenge for enterprises in the Fourth Industrial Revolution would be productivity, speed, connectivity and capability of providing services anywhere and anytime.
Among these characteristics, connectivity is a major factor in the digital era, while technologies have made it possible for countries such as South Korea to make a huge leap in development, Chinh continued.
Chinh requested the government to outline a strategy and support technology companies in improving their product and service quality, in turn propelling Vietnam’s economy to a new height.
Pham Hai Van, CEO of Haravan – North Branch, said putting business operations online would be the right direction.
An online platform would replace 100 brick-and-motar shops with much lower expenses, he stated.
Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Hai, CEO of local ride-hailing firm BE, pointed to the challenges that tech startups in Vietnam are facing, including strict business conditions and the fact that some foreign companies are not complying with local policies represents an act of unfair competition to Vietnamese firms.
In the Industry 4.0 era, the most important asset would be information, which requires local enterprises to develop their own tech ecosystem, Hai added.
For Vietnamese enterprises to reach regional level, a strong base is needed, including the support from the government, he concluded.
