HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho ChiMinh City authorities pledged to continue to provide assistance to informationtechnology, electronics and telecommunication (ICT) companies at a meeting heldin the city on September 18.

More than 120 representatives fromenterprises and associations attending the event heard about the most recentICT guidelines and assistance from State agencies.

Speaking at the meeting between the citygovernment and businesses, Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of HCM City People’sCommittee, said: “The city is committed to having no monopoly in the ICTsector. Implementation of any ICT project must be based on bidding.”

“HCM City will try its best to offerspecific assistance to enterprises. In return, enterprises must show specificICT products, contributing to the city’s socio-economic development,” Tuyen toldthe media.

The city plans to continue e-Government andimprove the effectiveness of state agencies’operation, while also continuing toissue policies and incentives to develop ICT infrastructure.

“HCM City will build national databases,including a database on population, land finance, insurance, businessregistration, and a database on the city’s development in the short and longterm,” he noted.

In addition, he urged enterprises toimprove training of ICT human resources from now to 2020.

“Human resources are a very importantfactor in promoting the development of science and technology, especially inthe field of ICT,” he said. “By 2020, HCM City will gather all resources tosupport, train and develop human resources majoring in ICT and informationsecurity.”

In addition, the city plans to continue toissue policies and incentives to support start-ups, and completing a legalframework for start-ups, especially those in ICT.

The city will also work on solutions tosupport start-ups through mass media to improve enterprises’ images and brands,creating favourable conditions for investments from domestic and internationalinstitutions.

To promote the entrepreneurial spirit,instead of general slogans, the city will ask enterprises to put forwardconcrete measures.

In addition, the city is focusing onbuilding a smart city which will apply hi-tech to develop creativity andinnovation, according to Tuyen.

Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the HCMCity Computers Association, said the city has been at the forefront of economictransition, producing a large number of hi-tech products.

ICT has in recent years been one of fourkey industries in the priority service sectors, with a growth rate of 16.5 percent.

The city’s volume of ICT products accountsfor 72 percent compared to the entire country, he said.

“Authorities would like to connect ICTenterprises by offering more incentives to encourage linkages,” he said. “Toparticipate in the global supply chain, Vietnamese ICT enterprises must firstmeet safety demands and technical requirements, and limit hazardous content intheir products.”

“Quality, environment and energy efficiencyare the general requirements. Corporate social responsibility and sustainabledevelopment are appreciated,” he added.

Agencies can assist enterprises byproviding consultancy, training, information and databases, and connect themwith international markets, he said.

In recent years the ICT industry has grownrapidly and has become one of the most important sectors of Vietnam’s economy.The industry plays an important role in creating jobs, income and humanresources for Vietnam.

Large investments from multinationalcorporations, especially in the field of manufacturing electronic components,have helped spark growth in the industry.

The meeting, organised by the city People’sCommittee, the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) of HCM City and theDepartment of Information and Communication, was held to resolve difficultiesfacing ICT businesses and help them follow State policies.

The organiser received questions in advancefrom businesses, most of which were related to issues such as tax incentivesand customs procedures.

Since 2012, ITPC has regularly worked withother agencies, including the Department of Information and Communication, toorganise dialogues to help enterprises.-VNS/VNA