HCM City forges ahead in IT

HCM City enterprises lead the nation in the application of information technology, followed by those in the provinces of Tien Giang, Lam Dong and Thua Thien-Hue, a Provincial Business IT Adoption Index shows.

Others in the top 10 locations for IT use are Tay Ninh, Lao Cai, Khanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc, Dak Lak and Kien Giang while Ninh Binh, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Thai Nguyen and Binh Duong are at the bottom.

The first-ever index of small and medium-size enterprises, released by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ha Noi for 2009, was based on interviews with 15-25 enterprises in each of 63 cities and provinces throughout the nation.

It showed that a shortage of finance and lack of awareness were major barriers to enterprises applying IT.

The criteria considered in the index were computer hardware, software, IT services, internal network connection, IT technical infrastructure, e-commerce application, human resources development and demand on IT products and training.

Le Van Loi, head of the chamber’s Institute of Information Technology for Business, said the index was a measurement against which enterprises and authorities could assess their own use of IT.

In an attempt to persuade and assist enterprises in the use of IT, the institute has organised 54 conferences and forums with the participation of nearly 10,000 firms.

More than 100 training courses were held for corporate executives and 34 model enterprises set up nationwide, Loi said.

This year, the institute would co-operate with provincial departments of information and communications to widen IT use.

Loi said it was also necessary to build websites for firms and e-commerce transaction floors for various localities.

Viet Nam News

Tags: Vietnam IT