Accelerating digital transformation to develop new industries and production sectors; and developing smart urban services and e-commerce trading floors are important tasks and solutions that are mentioned in the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW on continuing to implement Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW on building and developing Da Nang by 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Lien Chieu District People's Committee has launched a youth volunteer team "Community Digital Transformation" to promote the role of youth in developing digital economy, digital society and digital government. Photo: CHIEN THANG

53 digital transformation targets in 2025

Determining that digital transformation needs to be "go ahead, anticipate", on November 14, 2024, the municipal People's Committee issued Plan No. 229/KH-UBND on implementing digital transformation tasks in the city in 2025 with the theme "Focusing on building a digital society, developing digital citizens, and equipping people with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively participate in the digital economy and digital society, ensuring that no one is left behind”.

The plan sets out 53 targets including 25 digital government targets, 12 digital economy targets and 16 digital society targets; of which 22 are specific to the city. At the same time, the plan sets out 10 key tasks and solutions for 2025: strengthening leadership, management, inspection and supervision of digital transformation activities; digital institutions and policies; digital infrastructure; digital human resources; digital data development; network information security; digital government; digital economy; digital society; raising awareness, propaganda, communication; and other solutions to promote digital transformation, ensuring information security.

In particular, some important tasks that need to be implemented soon include the inauguration of the Da Nang Software Park No. 2 in January, ensuring that the city's data centre serves digital transformation in the direction of using cloud computing technology in March, and updating and building the city's e-Government Architecture version 3.0 according to the Vietnam e-Government Architecture Framework in June.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications, said that in 2025, the department will develop a digital transformation project to contribute to promoting and creating momentum for socio-economic development in the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2035.

Also, the city will continue to deploy and enhance the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual assistants in management and operation of digital government.

Meanwhile, the department will coordinate with relevant units to develop digital economy in all fields, especially hi-tech, tourism, seaports, logistics, IT, electronics, and telecommunications industries.

Special attention will be paid to developing a digital society, and establishing and developing a digital transformation space for organisations and people to experience digital products and digital technology services.

Towards comprehensive digital transformation

In early December 2024, Da Nang was honoured to receive the Vietnam Smart City Award for the 5^th consecutive time by the Viet Nam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA).

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, Vice President of the Viet Nam Digital Communications Association (VDCA), commented that Da Nang deserved to be the locality that has won the notable award for 5 consecutive years.

He explained that one of the leading factors that helped Da Nang achieve this award is the determination and strategic vision of the city's leaders. The Da Nang government has continuously promoted the application of information technology in administrative management and economic development, thereby creating a favourable environment for businesses and people, and at the same time, helping to enhance connectivity and data transmission.

To build a smart, modern city, Da Nang needs to develop a clear strategy and policy, closely following Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW and Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on the organisation of urban government and piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of the city. The city can completely enhance the role and contribution of the business sector to the overall development, Mr. Thang added.

Mr. Thang underlined the necessity for the city to continue upgrading and improving technology infrastructure to meet the requirements of applications, and protecting data and privacy to ensure that data is collected and used transparently and with the consent of users.

The focus should be on developing human resources in AI and digital technology; encouraging cooperation with local universities and international organisations to develop specialised training programmes on AI; strengthening international cooperation by participating in forums and international cooperation on AI to learn from experience and access advanced technology; raising awareness and skills on the benefits and applications of AI by providing free and subsidised online courses and tutorials; promoting innovation; encouraging initiatives; and piloting AI-based projects in State agencies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the municipal Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that digital economy with digital technology enterprises is considered as the core, using digital data and digital technology to improve efficiency and labour productivity, as well as create many new business models. Therefore, the city needs to continue to promote e-commerce, and replicate models such as "smart factories".

In terms of society, Da Nang needs to increase guidance for people to use digital signatures through the Community Digital Technology Team; implement the integration of digital signatures into banking, electricity, water, telecommunications, insurance and social security sectors; and deploy mass open online training platforms that are 100% free for people.

Reporting by MINH LE, CHIEN THANG - Translating by M.DUNG