VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will have 19 Information Technology (IT) focus areas which are expected to produce high added value, according to a draft master plan on IT development until 2020 with a vision toward 2025.

According to Vietnam Economic News, after a decade of implementing the construction of IT focus areas, to date, Vietnam has had seven IT focus areas, including Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Saigon Software Park, Quang Trung Software Park, Hanoi IT Trading Centre, Da Nang ICT Infrastructure Development Centre, National University of Ho Chi Minh City’s IT Park, and Can Tho University Software Centre.

These IT parks and centres are all located near the city centre. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the IT focus areas have attracted more than 700 companies, including 220 foreign companies, with more than 30,000 staff in total, accounting for about 25 percent human resources in the domestic software industry, and have involved in manufacturing digital content services, business process outsourcing (BPO), outsourcing to foreign markets, IT manpower training and supply, data centre establishment and management, embedded products, and domestic software business consultancy and incubation.

The Quang Trung Software Park is the most prominent, with 108 IT businesses outsourcing to 20 countries including the US, Japan and several European countries. The park reached about 2.865 trillion VND in total revenue last year, up 35.5 percent compared with the previous year.

Ministry of Information and Communications is finalizing a development of information technology (IT) focus area until 2020 with a vision toward 2025, with 19 IT focus areas located in provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Lam Dong, Thua Thien Hue, and Can Tho.

Director of the Da Nang’s Department of Information and Communications Pham Kim Son was quoted as saying that “these IT focus areas will create a favorable environment for investment, contributing to building the IT industry into a spearhead economic sector.”

However, the issue of human resources remains difficult for local authorities and businesses. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City need about 80,000 IT workers every year, however, the local IT worker supply only meets nearly 20 percent of demand.

President of Quang Trung Software Park Board of Management Chu Tien Dung also agreed that IT human resources problems should be solved to meet the needs of large companies.

VNA/VNN