Ho Chi Minh City Becoming A Regional S&T And Finance Hub: Leveraged By Resolution 57- NQ/TW

Ho Chi Minh City Accelerates Strategy To Become Regional S&T And Finance Hub: The Role Of Resolution 57- NQ/TW

Ho Chi Minh City is urgently implementing and concretizing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, setting sustainable development goals and building a solid foundation to become a high-quality regional science and technology (S&T) and finance hub. This is a crucial strategic step, shaping a breakthrough future for the City.

Guiding Principle For Science And Technology Development In Ho Chi Minh City

As the economic locomotive, Ho Chi Minh City currently boasts a vibrant innovation ecosystem with nearly 2,200 startups. The City actively organizes over 500 innovation events annually, pushing this ecosystem closer to the global Top 100.

In parallel, Ho Chi Minh City has been supporting 152 innovation projects, focusing on strategic breakthrough technology areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), new materials, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and autonomous technology.

Notably, the City is accelerating the construction of an Advanced Technology Institute, an international-standard Research Center, and upgrading the Training Center at the Hi-Tech Park (HTP) into a regional-standard digital human resources center. These projects are key factors for the development of human resources and S&T research capacity.

Implementing Resolution 57- NQ/TW: Ho Chi Minh City’s Swift Actions

As the focal point and general coordinating agency for the development of S&T, innovation, and digital transformation in the area, Mr. Lam Dinh Thang – Director of the HCMC Department of Science and Technology – shared that immediately after the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthrough development in national science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation was issued, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee swiftly implemented Action Program No. 63-CTrHĐ/TU dated February 27, 2025. This was accompanied by a series of specific plans from the City People’s Committee and various departments and agencies, with the Department of Science and Technology playing a pivotal role.

In the first quarter of 2025, the City vigorously restructured its administrative system, issuing nearly 1,800 internal processes, with over 1,700 processes streamlined and simplified. This has saved over 3,500 working hours, maximizing convenience for citizens and businesses, and serving as an important premise for building digital government.

The City government has also issued and implemented many specific plans on S&T, innovation, and digital transformation. Particularly, the City is focusing on researching specific policy mechanisms to support the piloting of new technologies in spearhead fields such as AI, blockchain, IoT, UAVs, and clean technology.

Mr. Lam Dinh Thang emphasized that one of the highlights in the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW in Ho Chi Minh City is the work of training and raising awareness about digital transformation and innovation. The Department of Science and Technology organized an in-depth AI training course for 110 officials and public employees, marking the first step in the digital human resources development strategy. The City is also boosting communication efforts and building online training platforms to disseminate technological knowledge to all segments of society.

Regarding digital infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City has submitted a project proposal to the Prime Minister for approval to connect the technology exchange floor of the Southeast region, and is deploying AI applications to support citizens and officials in handling administrative procedures. The information technology system has been comprehensively upgraded, serving 923/1,995 administrative procedures as full online public services (reaching 79.74%). Currently, 100% of state agencies in the area are operating in a digital environment, creating a solid foundation for building digital government and smart city.

Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Duoc, also affirmed the strategic importance of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW in shaping the City’s future development. He highly appreciated the advisory role of the Department of Science and Technology to the City Party Committee and the City People’s Committee in implementing and concretizing this Resolution, seeing it as a key factor and an important solution for the City’s development in the coming time.

Strategic Foundation For Ho Chi Minh City To Become A Regional S&T And Finance Hub

Parallel to the task of implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Ho Chi Minh City is also carrying out many major projects aimed at building a long-term strategic foundation. These include:

• Developing the semiconductor industry.
• Training high-quality human resources in the field of AI.
• Innovation startup support programs.
• Implementing public services independent of administrative boundaries.
• Promoting the building of a city-wide open data system.

These projects are not only actions to concretize Resolution 57-NQ/TW but also serve as the foundation for the future smart city development strategy.

To realize these ambitious goals, Mr. Lam Dinh Thang stated that the Department of S&T is focusing on implementing many synchronized solutions, from institutional refinement and digital infrastructure development to training high-quality human resources. One of the key orientations is to build policies supporting in-depth training in AI, microchips, and international-level human resources.

Expert Perspective: Removing Barriers For Ho Chi Minh City’s Breakthrough

Evaluating this work, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat – Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, former Minister of Science and Technology – commented that Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s leading economic, science, and technology center, possessing many favorable conditions to lead in implementing S&T, innovation, and digital transformation policies. Resolution 57-NQ/TW is a golden opportunity for the City to create strong momentum, contributing to the country’s leap forward in the new era.

Mr. Dat recommended that the Government should soon complete the legal framework by amending and supplementing legal regulations related to S&T, public investment, intellectual property, and tax policies to remove barriers and strongly encourage innovation activities. For Ho Chi Minh City, building a regulatory sandbox mechanism for new technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT is extremely necessary to promote development.