High-tech products, a key export item for HCM City, are expected to seestrong growth in the near future, according to speakers at a seminarheld yesterday in HCM City.
The seminar was organised by theDepartment of Industry and Trade, Sai Gon Hi-tech Park and WTO Centre'sDevelopment and Research Institute.
Huynh Khanh Hiep, deputydirector of the city's Department of Industry and Trade, said thatexport turnover of high-tech products reached 2.46 billion USD, anincrease of three times compared to 2011. This accounted for 11.4 percent of HCM City's total export turnover (not including crude oil).
The main export markets for hi-tech products are in Asia (Japan, Singapore, mainland China, Philippines and Thailand).
Among hi-tech products, the city's software exports are expected toreach an average growth rate of 40 per cent each year. By 2015, this isestimated to account for 2 percent of the total export turnover.
However, Hiep said to reach the target, support policies from the government were needed.
He noted that Japan, which imports a great deal of software,especially from China, has shifted its attention to the ASEAN region,including Vietnam. Domestic demand has also increased as moregovernment agencies and businesses have invested in IT.
"Localcompanies need to restructure businesses, seek high-quality humanresources and cooperation opportunities to strengthen exports ofhigh-tech products," Hiep said.
Le Thi Bich Loan, deputy headof the management board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), said that in thefirst five months of the year SHTP's hi-tech product exports reached 695 million USD out of 1 billion in total export turnover.
However, most of this came from foreign-invested enterprises.
The localisation ratio of high-tech products was still low, at 18 percent. It isexpected to increase to 35-45 percent by 2020, she said.
"Currently, domestic enterprises are facing many difficultiesincluding capital shortage. They are still weak in R&D and design.These are key to increase added value added for products," she said.
SHTP, in collaboration with city authorities, has offered incentiveson taxes, land rentals and loans, as well as training support forhigh-tech support industry projects inside the SHTP.
Chu TienDung, chairman of the HCM City Computer Association, said the Stateshould issue support policies on infrastructure for production,including land, technology and communications, to save costs andincrease competitiveness with other countries.
Human resourcesare also an important factor to help software companies develop in aninternational market. Employees are plentiful, but the quality of staffis not high, failing to meet demand, according to Dung. The lack ofskilled workers has hindered export growth of companies, he said.
Dung said there was also a need to build national trademarks forhigh-tech products and hold more trade promotions to introduce productsto the global market.-VNA
The seminar was organised by theDepartment of Industry and Trade, Sai Gon Hi-tech Park and WTO Centre'sDevelopment and Research Institute.
Huynh Khanh Hiep, deputydirector of the city's Department of Industry and Trade, said thatexport turnover of high-tech products reached 2.46 billion USD, anincrease of three times compared to 2011. This accounted for 11.4 percent of HCM City's total export turnover (not including crude oil).
The main export markets for hi-tech products are in Asia (Japan, Singapore, mainland China, Philippines and Thailand).
Among hi-tech products, the city's software exports are expected toreach an average growth rate of 40 per cent each year. By 2015, this isestimated to account for 2 percent of the total export turnover.
However, Hiep said to reach the target, support policies from the government were needed.
He noted that Japan, which imports a great deal of software,especially from China, has shifted its attention to the ASEAN region,including Vietnam. Domestic demand has also increased as moregovernment agencies and businesses have invested in IT.
"Localcompanies need to restructure businesses, seek high-quality humanresources and cooperation opportunities to strengthen exports ofhigh-tech products," Hiep said.
Le Thi Bich Loan, deputy headof the management board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), said that in thefirst five months of the year SHTP's hi-tech product exports reached 695 million USD out of 1 billion in total export turnover.
However, most of this came from foreign-invested enterprises.
The localisation ratio of high-tech products was still low, at 18 percent. It isexpected to increase to 35-45 percent by 2020, she said.
"Currently, domestic enterprises are facing many difficultiesincluding capital shortage. They are still weak in R&D and design.These are key to increase added value added for products," she said.
SHTP, in collaboration with city authorities, has offered incentiveson taxes, land rentals and loans, as well as training support forhigh-tech support industry projects inside the SHTP.
Chu TienDung, chairman of the HCM City Computer Association, said the Stateshould issue support policies on infrastructure for production,including land, technology and communications, to save costs andincrease competitiveness with other countries.
Human resourcesare also an important factor to help software companies develop in aninternational market. Employees are plentiful, but the quality of staffis not high, failing to meet demand, according to Dung. The lack ofskilled workers has hindered export growth of companies, he said.
Dung said there was also a need to build national trademarks forhigh-tech products and hold more trade promotions to introduce productsto the global market.-VNA
