This year, Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Information and Communications has created a plan to develop artificial intelligence (AI) applications in several sectors, including public administration, transport, healthcare, banking, and industries. According to a press release, the department will also expand and complete the city’s databases as part of its effort to become a smart city with e-government and e-enterprises by 2025.
Under the plan, a database of all sectors, including housing, transport, the environment, and healthcare will share data among all the city’s administrative departments. Authorities are focussing on developing AI technologies, improving human resources through AI education and training, and enhancing academic connections with foreign AI professionals. The press release informed that the department is developing AI-based solutions and supplying tools to serve digital transformation. This is expected to save costs and ensure security and safety in the transport, agriculture, science, and healthcare sectors, among others.
The city will also expand the 3G and 4G coverage in the city. Further, the department has implemented a programme to provide smartphones with an Internet connection to 58,000 underprivileged households in the city. Authorities have also been pushing to increase the number of start-ups and small and medium enterprises as well as the total investment in AI. Businesses are being urged to deploy AI applications to enhance internal strengths and increase competitiveness, the press release added. The city intends to build products and apply AI with practical value, transforming Ho Chi Minh City into the centre of Vietnam and a hub for research, development, and the transfer of applications in AI.
OpenGov Asia reported earlier this month that Ho Chi Minh City is deploying applications to enhance interactions between government agencies and residents, help enterprises speed up digital transformation, and digitise healthcare and education. Over 900 state agencies, corporations, and non-business establishments are reportedly using some features of an integrated data-sharing platform. According to an industry expert, the city will need to carry out specific adjustments to boost the value of its digital economy since it has great competitiveness and better resilience after the pandemic. It ranks 5th out of 63 provinces and cities in the index for information technology application and development.
Furthermore, the city has plans to establish at least two technology innovation centres from now through 2025 to help businesses completely digitise operations, according to the municipal people’s committee. They will strengthen supply chains, transfer technologies and innovations, research digital products, increase the awareness of digital transformation, promote an innovation ecosystem for start-ups, and help businesses develop digital products. They will also tie up with prominent global partners for digitisation and funding, to evaluate the effectiveness of digital products, and support the creation of digital solutions.
Reports show that Vietnam’s AI market will witness steady growth from 2022 to 2026. The rise in the demand for the analysis of historical datasets to predict upcoming market trends is expected to influence its development. The development of cloud computing technology and the rise in the demand for data analysis is also expected to impact the country’s AI market growth.
