Developing digital businesses is one of the important tasks in the city's digital transformation goal. The formation of key digital technology enterprises will be the driving force to boost digital transformation in other businesses and industries, thereby promoting the development of digital economy and improving the economy's competitiveness.

The FPT Complex Building in the FPT Urban Area Da Nang. Photo: TRIEU TUNG

2.1 digital technology enterprises/1,000 people

According to the municipal Department of Information and Communications, Da Nang now has 2.1 digital technology enterprises per 1,000 people after Ho Chi Minh City, far exceeding the national average of 0.5 digital technology enterprises /1000 people.

More than 44,000 people are working for the city’s information technology industry, an increase of more than 22% over the same period in 2020. Da Nang-based digital technology enterprises have developed their own products which have been available in provinces and cities nationwide.

In foreign markets, the city’s software export turnover in the first 9 months of 2022 reached US$83.2 million, fulfilling 76% of the year’s plan, up 30% over the same period in 2021.

Digital technology enterprises in the city have step by step mastered the core technologies of the 4.0 industrial revolution such as IoT and artificial intelligence, and developed made-in-Da Nang products which have been replicated in other localities and honoured at domestic and foreign awards.

For instance, the automatic rain gauge Vrain, which is co-developed by the Da Nang-based Water Resources Development and Consulting Company (WATEC) and the Smart and Innovation Technology Joint Stock Company (Sitech), have been deployed nationwide with more than 2,000 stations, including Truong Sa and Phu Quoc islands. The product won the first prize of the Viet Nam Science and Technology Innovation Award (VIFOTEC) in 2019.

In late October, the municipal Department of Information and Communications has just connected 31 rainfall monitoring sites across the city. The information is uploaded to the Danang Smart City app and the city's switchboard 1022, aiming to provide warnings and instructions for residents to promptly respond to extreme weather events.

Prominently, the Retex Technology JSC headquartered at Binh Thuan Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang was honoured with the award for the best digital transformation solution for businesses with its Retex project at the awards ceremony of the Viet Solutions 2022 on October 10.

Retex is a solution to help textile enterprises to easily manage and be transparent in their business and production process, thereby contributing to improving the position of Viet Nam's textile and garment industry in the international market. Till date, Retex has deployed and supported digital transformation for more than 100 garment factories nationwide. The efficiency of the solution testing shows an increase of 32% in production productivity, and a reduction of 21% in workload, 12% in unnecessary costs and 5% in fabric waste by 5%, thereby contributing to environmental protection.

Digital businesses will go hand in hand with the city in the realisation of the goals of building a smarter city and e-government, and boosting digital transformation. IN THE PHOTO: Digital product production activities are seen at the V.B.P.O Joint Stock Company based in Hai Chau District. Photo: M.Q

Supporting digital business development

On September 1, 2020, the municipal People's Committee issued a plan to implement Prime Minister-signed Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 14, 2020 on promoting the development of digital technology enterprises in Da Nang.

Accordingly, the city determined to focus on developing four groups of digital businesses. They are large commercial and service enterprises in the socio-economic fields on course to shift their activities to the field of digital technology, and invest in core technology; reputed IT enterprises continuing to undertake research and development tasks, master digital technology and take initiative in production; start-ups applying digital technology to create new products and services in socio-economic fields; and innovative and creative start-ups in digital technology.

After 2 years of implementing the plan, Da Nang has achieved some positive results. In terms of infrastructure, the city has built two concentrated information technology parks. Of which, the Da Nang Software Park is expected to have an occupancy rate of 100% starting from 2013, and the Software Park No. 2 is expected to be put into operation in the first quarter of 2023.

Besides, the Trung Nam Construction Investment JSC-invested Da Nang IT Park is attracting more investors. The city is promoting investment attraction activities in the IT Park No. 2, and the Creative Space Zone in Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District.

With regard to telecommunications infrastructure, a MAN urban network with nearly 400km of underground fiber optic cables have been developed in the city, and it has been expanded to connect 145 agencies and units and is being upgraded.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications, remarked his unit will continue to coordinate with relevant units to implement a number of solutions to promote the development of digital technology businesses in the city.

Attention will be paid to supporting digital businesses to access the city’s existing policies, speeding up the construction progress of information technology parks and smart operation centres, and effectively implementing cooperation programmes with related units at both home and abroad.

Furthermore, the development of digital businesses will go hand in hand with the city’s government in the realisation of the goals of building a smarter city and e-government, and applying digital technology achievements widely in socio-economic fields and digital transformation in Da Nang and the country as a whole.

Reporting by M.QUE - Translating by M.DUNG