Hi-tech industry – experience learnt from HCM City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest economic hub, has been paying attention to developing the hi-tech industry so as to bring into full play opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest economic hub,has been paying attention to developing the hi-tech industry so as to bring intofull play opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
This is considered an important foundation to help the city raise the quality of its economic growth and competitiveness, and attract moreprojects with high scientific-technological contents.
Over the past time, many domestic and foreign-investedcompanies in Ho Chi Minh City have established advanced production models andapplied high-tech techniques, thus forming modern production lines, easingdependence on imported components, and meeting the demand forhigh-tech products in the country and for export.
The Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) currently has 165 validinvestment projects totaling 8.6 billion USD, in which many major groups suchas Samsung and Intel have enjoyed effective business and investment and plan toexpand their production scale.
To date, its hi-tech production value hits nearly 108billion USD, and its labour productivity is 6.6 times that of thecity’s average and nearly 17 times that the country’s average.
In early March, the city issued a programme on scientificresearch and technological development for 2021-2025, in which investment inscience and technology from the city budget will be equal to over 2 percent ofits total budget expenditure, a rise from the current figure of less than 1percent.
To attract major investors, the city is promoting theestablishment of a 300-ha hi-tech supporting industrial park to create anecosystem of hi-tech supporting industries.
Head of the SHTP management board Nguyen Anh Thi said thatin its investment attraction strategy, the park will prioritise projectswith new and advanced technologies.
It expects to draw around 3 billion USD in the over 50 hi-techprojects in the 2021-2025 period./.
While Vietnam is not out of the woods yet, it has enough pull factors to encourage investors to continue their business operations and even move their manufacturing operations to the country, according to Vietnam Briefing.
Visiting President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio toured the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 19, part of his official visit to Vietnam.
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.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
