The green economy and digital economy are creating a driving force for Ho Chi Minh City's development in the new era.

The digital economy needs to grow at nearly double the national rate.

To increase Ho Chi Minh City's digital economy from approximately VND 626,000 billion in 2025 to over VND 1.4 million billion in 2030, the city needs to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 17.5%, nearly double the national digital economy growth rate in 2024. This growth aims to compensate for the lower economic indicators of Binh Duong and the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, while also surpassing the growth rate of traditional industries, which are the strengths of these two localities.

Mr. Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, stated: "The question is how the digital economy of Ho Chi Minh City will develop and at what speed to make a substantial and effective contribution to the city's economic growth rate of over 10% from 2026. Therefore, the city has chosen this as a key priority, seeking solutions ranging from measurement and improvement in strategy to general awareness, consulting for businesses, and training human resources to promote the development of the digital economy of Ho Chi Minh City as expected."

Kinh tế xanh và kinh tế số tạo thế phát triển cho TP.HCM trong kỷ nguyên mới - Ảnh 2. — *Mr. Lam Dinh Thang - Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City*

Resolution 98 has given Ho Chi Minh City certain "leverages," especially for the digital economy, such as policies exempting corporate and personal income tax for innovative startups, allowing the budget to contribute capital to venture capital funds to commission scientific research, and a controlled testing mechanism (sandbox). This is a "license" for the city to pilot new business models and technologies that the law has not yet caught up with.

Mr. Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society, Ministry of Science and Technology, stated: "We have a large infrastructure including major data centers in Ho Chi Minh City, large terrestrial information stations in Binh Duong, and offshore data stations in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. We also have an ecosystem to develop new business models; we will select successful digital economy models to replicate nationwide."

Kinh tế xanh và kinh tế số tạo thế phát triển cho TP.HCM trong kỷ nguyên mới - Ảnh 3. — *Mr. Tran Minh Tuan - Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society, Ministry of Science and Technology*

Applying technology and green transformation

According to Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association: "Applying technology to control goods, for example using QR codes to trace origins during inspection and control, has ensured compliance and eliminated substandard goods."

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Do Thien Anh Tuan, lecturer at the School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam, the demand here is not only for exports but also for the domestic market, given the government's Net Zero 2050 roadmap. Therefore, smaller businesses increasingly need to adapt to the demands of the economy and require policies to support them, both to help them see the benefits of transformation and to support the costs of this transformation.

Kinh tế xanh và kinh tế số tạo thế phát triển cho TP.HCM trong kỷ nguyên mới - Ảnh 4. — *Dr. Do Thien Anh Tuan - Lecturer at the School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam*

Ho Chi Minh City's development strategy for the coming period will focus on the digital economy, based on five pillars: improving institutions, developing digital infrastructure, enhancing human resource quality, building an innovation ecosystem, and strengthening cooperation and linkages.

Mr. Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society, Ministry of Science and Technology, stated: "Ho Chi Minh City will be selected by the Ministry of Science and Technology to test new digital economic models, such as regional financial centers, digital assets, virtual assets, digital currencies, UAVs, breakthrough technologies, and data. Data is an asset that needs to be valued and brought to the market to maximize its value."

Starting with strengthening the internal capacity of businesses and focusing on supporting key industries to develop distinctive economic zones, many businesses expect Ho Chi Minh City to form a network of complementary production, business, and investment activities, aiming for the digital economy to contribute over 40% of GRDP by 2030.

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