With smart phone purchases on the rise in Vietnam due in no small
part to its younger generations, more Vietnamese than ever are
connecting to the internet and accessing social media.
The
assessment was made by Javier Polit, Chief Information Officer of the
Coca-Cola Company, Bottling Investments Group during a strategic summit
in HCM City last week, held to discuss developments in
Information Technology.
“In the short-term, we want
to understand the trends of mobile technology in Vietnam and the
surrounding regions. In the long-term, however, we aim to assure that
based on such insights, we can carry out the most appropriate and
effective technological solutions so that our business can best serve
the needs of the Vietnamese consumers and market.”
The
summit focused on current and future technological trends, and provided
recommendations for businesses hoping to tap into mobile commerce.
Polit
stated that IT is playing a significant role in Coca-Cola’s
development, adding that “countries in Asia , such as Vietnam , will
soon be the ones shaping the consumer mobile behaviours of the west. It
will be interesting to closely observe these social network and mobile
technology trends. In this case, the west will not be setting the trends
for the world like before.”
Experts have flagged
concerns with threats to privacy of information, adding that a policy
framework needs to be developed in consultation with key corporations
and top representatives.
Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, Deputy
Director of the Information and Communications Department of the
Ministry of Information and Communication, said the Ministry is
improving infrastructure in the IT sector under Resolution 13, issued by
the Government in January, 2012.
The resolution aims to build a technological system to enable Vietnam ‘s transition into an industrial nation by 2020.
“IT is the most essential component in national development”, Tuyen said.
The
Deputy Director voiced support of businesses embracing information
technology as a way to collaborate with other companies and create
efficiencies. He also suggested that discussions with businesses are an
important way to gauge capabilities and enable better coordination.
“What
we’re trying to accomplish in Vietnam at this summit is not only
understand the trends in technology but understand how to strengthen the
competencies of local employees, our customers using IT, and students,
who will shape Vietnam ‘s future.”
The Deputy Director expressed support for projects that will provide IT training in secondary schools.
He
stated that society has an important role in embracing IT and that
businesses could play a vital role in providing training to supplement
the Government’s efforts.-VNA