ITO conference promotes Vietnam as attractive IT destination
The Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) Conference 2017 kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on October 19, aiming to introduce Vietnam as an attractive destination for IT services.
Participants in the Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) Conference 2017 pose for a photo (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The VietnamInformation Technology Outsourcing (ITO) Conference 2017 kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City onOctober 19, aiming to introduce Vietnam as an attractive destination for ITservices that is comparable to leading countries in the world.
The two-day event drew organisations andbusinesses from 20 countries and territories such as the US, Japan, theRepublic of Korea, India, China, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
Vietnam is given the sixth position in the A.T.Kearney’s 2017 Global Service Location Index. It ranked first among the world’sbusiness process outsourcing (BPO) centres in the 2016 list of Cushman &Wakefield. Meanwhile, the country was also named one of the six leadingdestinations for technology transfer in the Asian-Pacific region in a 2016report of advisory firm Gartner.
Dao Dinh Kha, Director of the Department ofInformation Technology under the Ministry of Information and Communications,said although Vietnam follows other countries like India and China in terms ofthe software market and IT services, it boasts certain advantages and potentialfor this sectors.
Particularly, the country is completely able tostand firm in the fierce competition in the software sector with other nations,he added.
However, Director of the HCM City Investment andTrade Promotion Centre Pham Thiet Hoa said though Vietnam’s software industryhas been highly valued by many rating organisations in the world, most of localsoftware companies are small. Therefore, they have encountered numerousdifficulties when advertising their products in global markets.
It is necessary to step up promotion andinvestment to further market Vietnam’s IT sector to the world, Hoa noted.
At the ITO conference, there will also paneldiscussions on IT manpower in Vietnam, the prospect of BPO services in thecountry, Vietnam-Japan technology cooperation, and the application of newtechnologies to enhance competitiveness and reap success.-VNA
Vietnam wants to learn from Hungary’s experience in developing information-technology (IT) policies in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, said Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has approved a 1/2000 scale plan for the city’s second science and technology park to be built in District 9 at a cost of around 4.3 trillion VND (188 million USD).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the National Academy of Public Administration to step up the application of information technology into its training programme towards the formation of a digital administration system amidst the fourth industrial revolution.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has highlighted business opportunities in information and communication technology in Vietnam on the back of its 100 million population with 60 percent aged below 35.
The top 50 information technology (IT) companies of Vietnam in 2017 has total revenue of over 20.67 trillion VND (936 million USD) and employ over 35,500 people, according to the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA).
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Participants in the Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) Conference 2017 pose for a photo (Photo: VNA) 
