Applying digital technology to develop the economy in the Northwest region

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong speaks at the event. (Photo: TL)

Cooperation, expanding space for innovation

The event attracted more than 300 delegates from ministries, branches, localities, institutes, experts, technology enterprises and innovation support organizations. This is considered one of the largest and most directly impactful activities on the digital transformation process of the northern mountainous provinces in 2025.

In recent years, digital transformation and digital economic development have been identified as key tasks of Vietnam. However, in the Northwestern provinces - where the terrain is fragmented, the population is sparse, and technology infrastructure is limited, the implementation of digital technology faces many difficulties. In that context, bringing the "Make in Vietnam" digital technology product ecosystem closer to the government, businesses and people in mountainous areas is a task of special importance.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong emphasized: Digital technology and innovation will be the key to help the Northwest overcome limitations in geography, infrastructure and resources. The Deputy Minister stated that digital solutions developed by Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly suitable for local conditions and can be easily applied to agricultural production, logistics, tourism, urban management and even education and health.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to accompany the provinces in implementing successful digital transformation models, promoting the application of big data, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms in socio-economic development.

At the workshop, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Bien province Nguyen Minh Phu said that the province is strongly prioritizing the application of science, technology and digital transformation in all areas of development. Dien Bien has formed many models of smart agriculture and digital tourism, while strengthening information technology infrastructure to serve e-government and smart cities.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that this is an opportunity for Dien Bien to connect with technology enterprises; at the same time, it creates a foundation for the Northwestern provinces to build a cooperation network in the field of digital economy, which is considered an important driving force for sustainable development in disadvantaged areas.

In the morning session, delegates from many domestic digital technology agencies and enterprises shared practical models, platforms and digital solutions suitable for the conditions of the Northwest.

Notably, the CheckVN traceability platform helps control the quality of agricultural products, especially highland specialty products. The VDAPES digital agricultural ecosystem supports from cultivation, crop management to product consumption, helping farmers increase productivity and reduce costs. Many AI application solutions in rice cultivation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions were also presented. Digital cooperative models, e-commerce platforms for agricultural products, smart tourism management system vTravel... attract the attention of localities because of their high feasibility and can be deployed right at the base.

Within the framework of the event, representatives of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Hanoi University of Science and Technology and a number of other technology enterprises also introduced open data solutions, data analysis, AI camera systems, digital transformation solutions in education and healthcare - areas of particular importance to the highlands. Announcing Geographical Indications - a new step forward for Dien Bien agricultural product brands.

An important highlight of the workshop was the awarding of Geographical Indication Certificates to three specialty products: Shan Tuyet Tea, Shan Tuyet Pu-erh Tea and Dien Bien Coffee. These are products with high economic value, which are considered to be completely capable of becoming regional agricultural brands of national significance if digital technology is applied to manage quality and expand the market.

Along with that, 20 sets of STEM equipment were donated to support schools in the province to improve their scientific experience capacity and promote creative thinking for students - an important foundation for future digital human resources.

Towards the goal of building a digital economy in the Northwest region

At the workshop, many important cooperation agreements were signed, including: cooperation in training digital capacity for small and medium enterprises; coordination in communications to promote science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; cooperation in supporting digital technology enterprises to develop "Make in Vietnam" products to serve localities; especially the cooperation program between the Department of Information Technology Industry and northern provinces to promote the development of digital technology industry until 2030. These agreements are considered to create a long-term cooperation framework, contributing to promoting the innovation ecosystem of the Northwest region.

Experts at the workshop commented that bringing the “Make in Vietnam” solution to the Northwest is not only meaningful for the people but also helps businesses expand their markets and test products in special conditions that only the Northwest has. In return, the locality will benefit from optimized solutions, saving implementation costs but still bringing high efficiency. The digitalization of production, agriculture, tourism and public management processes will help provinces improve their competitiveness, attract investment and promote sustainable growth.

According to experts, organizing the workshop in Dien Bien at a time when localities are building socio-economic plans for 2025 is even more practical. This shows the joint efforts of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Northwestern provinces in bringing digital technology into life, reducing the digital gap between regions.

The workshop is not only a place to introduce technology products but also a forum to share experiences, orient policies, and identify the specific needs and requirements of mountainous areas. The event opens up opportunities for the Northwest to gain deeper access to the Vietnamese digital technology ecosystem, while creating a bridge between management agencies, businesses and people to build a digital economy, digital society and digital government in the future.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/ung-dung-cong-nghe-so-phat-trien-kinh-te-khu-vuc-tay-bac-post927589.html