Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for a digital economy contributing about 25% and 40% to its GRDP by 2025 and 2030. (Photo: VNA)

Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, stated that the local authorities have issued a scheme to transform the southern largest economic hub into a smart city, a digital transformation programme, a data governance strategy, and a research and development programme for artificial intelligence (AI) applications for 2020-2030.

These key policy mechanisms for digital data-driven transformation are to not only ensure the set targets but also maximise the city's potential to rise to the level of major peers in the region and other countries.

At a workshop on smart city strategy held in the metropolis last month, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Southern Office, emphasised the importance of databases.

Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Head of the Vietnam Innovation and Digital Transformation Institute’s scientific council, said that linking and managing databases will bring economic and social value to the country, localities, and enterprises. Conversely, if the databases are not of high quality, efficient digital models or applications cannot be achieved.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long recommended localities to build a common understanding that smart urban development is about implementing digital transformation within the scope and scale of urban areas focusing on addressing such major issues as transport, environment, energy, and social security.

This is a continuous and long-term process, requiring significant resources from the social community, he said.

Currently, the ministry is drafting a government decree on regulations for shared databases and is expected to submit it to the Government in May 2024.