HCMCity (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Union of BusinessAssociations (HUBA) on September 24 launched a digital transformation programmefor small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help improve theircompetitiveness.

Theprogramme will be implemented in collaboration with the HCM City ComputerAssociation and its members as a part of the city administration’s efforts tohelp SMEs gain better access to digital transformation solutions at reasonablecosts.

Underthe scheme, a committee for digital transformation under the management of the HUBAand a digital transformation training centre for enterprises will beestablished.

Aportal will be built to support the digital transformation efforts, and adigital transformation solution package called Service Catalog will be establishedto support businesses.

Thebusiness association also introduced two basic digital transformation packages,the X-Starter (for start-ups) and X-SME (for SMEs), to be provided by reputedmembers of the computer association.

Speakingat a press conference held yesterday to announce the programme, HUBAChairman Chu Tien Dung stressed the importance of good infrastructure anda legal framework for digital transformation. 

Enterpriseshave recognised the importance of technologies in their operations andmanagement, he said, adding that digital transformation will be the element tohelp them improve their competitive capacity and develop sustainably.

LamNguyen Hai Long, chairman of the computer association, said his association isworking with other business groups in the city to publish a catalogue ofIT products for enterprises’ digital transformation efforts.

Herecommended that the city should provide free IT infrastructure for SMEs,and IT enterprises should offer digital transformation services at reducedprices.

Thecity should choose local enterprises to provide technologies for theprogramme because similar projects are already being carried out byIT enterprises in other provinces and cities, he added.

HCM Cityaims to become a smart city with e-government, e-enterprises and anelectronic society by 2030, and set up a database by that year to assistwith this.

By2030 it also aims to push all public services onlineand provide them on multiple platforms, including mobile devices.

Thee-economy is expected to account for 40 percent of the city’s economy.

Therate of individuals and enterprises having electronic accounts for paymentswill exceed 85 percent.

Toobtain these goals, the city will strengthen communications andimprove the awareness of its workers, the public and enterprises andcreate shared databases.

Expertssaid the digital transformation would affect all areas of the economylike health, education, transport, finance-banking, tourism, agriculture,logistics, environment, and energy./.