Making a presentation on the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation – Ho Chi Minh City’s strategic breakthrough in the new period under Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW – Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the city, stated that in recent years, science, technology, and innovation have proved to be a key driving force for the city’s growth. The city has achieved positive results, forming a solid foundation for the next five years.
At present, Ho Chi Minh City ranks second nationwide in both the Digital Transformation Index and the National Innovation Index. Its start-up and innovation ecosystem is ranked 110th globally and 5th in Southeast Asia. A favourable factor in digital finance is that the city has climbed to 30th place worldwide in blockchain development.
In the next five years, the city has set several major targets: total factor productivity (TFP) will contribute at least 60%; the digital economy will account for 30–40% of gross regional domestic product (GRDP); and Ho Chi Minh City will become an internationally-recognised innovation centre by 2030.
This is also a task recently assigned to the city by the Central Steering Committee for Resolution 57. The city’s start-up ecosystem aims to be among the top 100 most dynamic cities in the world, with at least five internationally-standard research centres in strategic technology fields.
To achieve these results, the city has consistently implemented a comprehensive set of key measures. To realise these goals, efforts will focus on three strategic breakthroughs: mechanisms, policies, and investment attraction; strategic technologies and the innovation ecosystem; and digital governance with a high-quality digital workforce.
Regarding mechanisms, policies, and investment attraction, Lam Dinh Thang said the city must focus on attracting strategic investors in science and technology. He revealed that the G42 Group of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to invest nearly 2 billion USD in an AI super-data centre in the city.
The city needs to further develop the High-Tech Park and pilot zones for new technologies under special mechanisms. It has registered to pilot a public-private partnership model, allowing the city budget to invest in local universities, thereby promoting the Viet Nam National University to reach the top 100 in Asia by 2030. The city also needs policies to encourage private-sector investment in science and technology, and to support small and medium-sized enterprises in accelerating digital transformation.
Presenting another paper, Truong Thi My Hanh, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, said that during the past term, under the leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and with close coordination from the administration, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front played a pivotal role in promoting democracy and conducting supervision and social feedback activities aligned with the city’s practical needs and tasks.
These efforts have contributed significantly to strengthening social consensus, participating in Party and government building, and fostering the great national unity bloc—thus creating momentum to boost development indicators, growth, and citizens’ quality of life.
To further enhance the role of the Front in promoting democracy and participating in Party and government building, Truong Thi My Hanh proposed several key directions at today’s the plenary forum.
Accordingly, the supervision and social feedback work of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations must be placed under the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party, with close, synchronous coordination from the government. This should be linked with the Party’s mass mobilisation work, particularly that of government institutions—where the Party and State listen to, understand, and serve the people.
Every policy and decision must be based on the principle of placing citizens at the centre, taking service to the people as the goal, and measuring effectiveness through public satisfaction and trust.
The Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations must vigorously renew their activities, align with their assigned functions and the realities of people’s lives, and avoid administrative formality. They should take citizens’ legitimate needs and aspirations as the starting point, promote digital transformation, and expand interactive and online feedback channels.
In addition, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations need to enhance the quality of supervision and social feedback—focusing on areas directly affecting people’s lives and the city’s development strategies. Feedback must be grounded in scientific evidence and practical data, with mandatory response mechanisms.
The city should pay greater attention to developing a contingent of Front and socio-political organisation officials who possess political integrity, moral uprightness, practical capacity, public-engagement skills, innovative thinking, and a strong commitment to serving and connecting with the people.
