VietNamNet Bridge – With smart phone purchases on the rise in Viet Nam due in no small part to its younger generations, more Vietnamese than ever are connecting to the internet and accessing social media.

The statement was made by Javier Polit, Chief Information Officer of the Coca-Cola Company, Bottling Investments Group during a strategic summit in HCM City last week, held to discuss developments in Information Technology.

"In the short-term, we want to understand the trends of mobile technology in Viet Nam and the surrounding regions. In the long-term, however, we aim to assure that based on such insights, we can carry out the most appropriate and effective technological solutions so that our business can best serve the needs of the Vietnamese consumers and market."

The summit focused on current and future technological trends, and provided recommendations for businesses hoping to tap into mobile commerce.

Polit stated that IT was playing a significant role in Coca-Cola's development, adding that "countries in Asia, such as Viet Nam, will soon be the ones shaping the consumer mobile behaviors of the west. It will be interesting to closely observe these social network and mobile technology trends. In this case, the west will not be setting the trends for the world like before."

Experts have flagged concerns with threats to privacy of information, adding that a policy framework needed to be developed in consultation with key corporations and top representatives.

Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Information and Communications Department of the Ministry of Information and Communication, said the Ministry was improving infrastructure in the IT sector under Resolution 13, issued by the Government in January, 2012.

The resolution aims to build a technological system to enable Viet Nam's transition into an industrial nation by 2020.

"IT is the most essential component in national development, according to instruction 58 from the Ministry in 2000", Tuyen said.

The Deputy Director voiced support of businesses embracing information technology as a way to collaborate with other companies and create efficiencies. He also suggested discussions with businesses were an important way to gauge capabilities and enable better co-ordination.

"What we're trying to accomplish in Viet Nam in this summit is not only understand the trends in technology but understand how to strengthen the competencies of local employees, our customers using IT, and students, who will shape Viet Nam's future."

The Government has built a productive relationship with Coca-Cola, with the Deputy Director expressing initial support for projects that will provide IT training in secondary schools.

He stated that society had an important role in embracing IT and that businesses could play a vital role in providing training to supplement the Government's efforts.

Source: VNS