IT sector to press right buttons

Vietnam’s information technology and hi-tech sectors will become a hub for domestic and foreign investors in 2011.A list of projects to be executed in Vietnam in 2011 includes Taiwan’s Wintek Corporation’s touch screen production plant in northern Bac Giang province, Hewlett Packard opening a software testing company and other projects in Hoa Lac and Saigon Hi-Tech parks.

Wintek Corporation is looking for an investment certificate to develop its $150 million plant in the first phase over 60 hectares to make touch screens for Apple’s Ipad and Iphones. Wintek’s plant, the first of its kind in Vietnam, is expected to be up and running by the end of 2011.

According to Bac Giang’s industrial park management authority, Wintek is working with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology to draw up a proposal to enjoy tax incentives for foreign firms investing in high-tech fields.

“The investor wants incentives for hi-tech projects like other peers and it has not yet submitted an investment certificate application to our authority,” Nguyen Anh Quyen, head of the provincial industrial park management authority.

Hewlett Packard will open a $18 million testing software company in Vietnam in 2011. The company is seeking support from Vietnamese governmental agencies in terms of human resources.

Hoa Lac Hi-Tech park authorities also revealed five potential projects to be invested in the park with total investment capital of $110 million this year. They include a Viettel smart card factory to be opened in the third quarter of 2011, a $20 million software research and development of NCS and Tinh Van Company each.

BKAV network security company is also composing a proposal to develop a centre of software and network security development with investment capital of VND1 trillion ($50 million) in the park.

Saigon Hi-tech Park granted investment certificates to around seven projects in the park in 2010 and those will be under operation in 2011. The Saigon Advanced Institute of Technology providing information technology skills to post-graduates will open in 2011.

The park authorities also signed memorandum of understanding with Intel Vietnam to attract Intel’s suppliers to the park.

Le Nam Thang, deputy minister of Information and Communications said global leading IT corporations were accessing to invest in Vietnam along with big investment from domestic companies.

The MIC reported the country’s IT revenue was $7.4 billion in 2010, an on-year increase of 20 per cent against 2009. – VIR

Tags: Vietnam IT industry, Vietnam IT sector