In an effort to promote the consumption of goods, especially local specialties, Da Nang’s industry and trade sector has actively stepped up the application of information technology and digital transformation in trade promotion activities. The purpose is to create favorable conditions for businesses, production facilities and cooperatives to advertise their brand names, and promote the product consumption through e-commerce channels.

E-commerce platforms are effective tools for trade promotions. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Mandatory requirements

Master Tran Danh Nhan, a lecturer at the Faculty of E-commerce of the Da Nang University of Economics, identified that e-commerce would be strongly developed in 2022 following economic recovery as well as shopping habits that consumers formed before and during COVID-19.

He also pointed out some main factors that will contribute to promoting e-commerce development in Da Nang, and the country as a whole.

Particularly, the national government will deploy the national digital transformation strategies and promote e-commerce in a drastic manner.

Also, digital finance strategies will be strongly relaunched, whilst a public service digitisation project will enter the next phase.

Activities to promote digital transformation among enterprises have been promoted.

The reopening of the aviation, tourism and commercial markets as well as the re-establishment and establishment of new businesses will together create a new wave in business.

In the context of COVID-19, many e-commerce activities that have become business standards in the new normal will be a driving factor for businesses to boost e-commerce activities. The consumer shift to digital purchase channels during the pandemic is a great advantage for businesses to exploit the potential of this market.

Mr. Vo Van Khanh, Head of the Da Nang E-commerce Association, remarked that digital transformation is mandatory for all businesses and organisations to adapt to the context of interrupted or broken global trade and disrupted supply chains, and consumer shift to e-commerce.

Also, there has been a significant increase in the number of organisations and enterprises applying technology to e-commerce, production management, sales management, and more, with the aim of optimising resources and fully tapping the multinational and cross-border market.

Perfecting digital transformation capacity

Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Le Thi Kim Phuong said that during the year, her organisation will continue to promote the application of information technology and e-commerce in implementing trade promotion activities, as well as supporting businesses, production facilities and cooperatives to improve their capacity of trade promotions on digital platforms and develop consumer markets for goods, especially specialty products.

In particular, priority will be given to facilitating enterprises, production facilities and cooperatives to promote their brand names and introduce products on the city's e-commerce trading floors.

Importance will be attached to raising awareness and capacity on the application of information technology and digital transformation in trade promotion activities among trade promotion organisations and businesses in the city.

Trade promotion activities with domestic and foreign organisations and enterprises will be enhanced.

She revealed that the municipal government has just issued a project on promoting the application of information technology and digital transformation in trade promotions during the 2021-2030 period.

Under the project, by 2025, 100% trade promotion organisations and 70% of enterprises, cooperatives and business households will have been granted accounts on the national digital trade promotion ecosystem. Particularly, 50% of them will have done transactions and shared information on the ecosystem.

Also, the rate of fairs and exhibitions in the city to be held virtually and to turn digital platforms into effective tools to introduce and promote Da Nang's products will reach 25%.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals, Da Nang will coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop criteria and hire experts to assess the current status and capacity of IT application and digital transformation in trade promotions among trade promotion organisations, enterprises, cooperatives, and business households.

“We are on track to develop a virtual exhibition to support the city's businesses to display and promote products on this platform. Businesses that cannot participate in the exhibition directly can display a lot of their products on the virtual exhibition platform" said Ms. Le Thi Kim Phuong.

As the operator of the website https://danangtrade.com.vn/, Mr. Vo Van Khanh informed that in the coming time, the Viet Nam E-commerce Association will partner with relevant agencies to organise training courses on digital transformation for city-based businesses.

“We also plan to organise supply - demand connection events and online trade activities, as well as provide consulting sessions on technology and internet platform connection solutions, in a bid to facilitate enterprises, cooperatives and business households to promote output for products to adapt to the new commercial context" added Mr. Khanh.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG - Translating by M.DUNG