Hanoi forum seeks to foster IT links in ASEAN

Hanoi (VNA) – Cyber security and smart society development were the main focuses of a forum in Hanoi on November 24, which was attended by scientists from research institutes at ASEAN and Vietnamese universities.

Organised by the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT) and the National Institute of Information and Communications, the event is part of efforts to strengthen information and telecommunications connectivity within ASEAN.
                                                   
PTIT Deputy Director Hoang Dang Hai said information communities worldwide are prioritising cyber security and smart applications.

Smart applications help make life easier and more convenient, he said, stressing the need to ensure sustainable and safe development in the sector.

Regional scientists shared initiatives and practical solutions, which are expected to be studied and applied in the future.

According to Nguyen Thanh Tuyen from the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam aims to reach a minimum 15-percent growth for the sectors of software, digital content and IT service by 2020.

The country should exert efforts to improve its competitiveness to maintain its position as one of the ten leading suppliers of software processing and digital content services in the region, he said.

It also plans to attract more foreign direct investment projects in major industries.

Vietnam needs to expand IT cooperation with other countries to share experience and software solutions and to learn from its partners, he noted.

Participants of the forum discussed items related to smart community and city development,  IT application in health care and natural disaster prevention, green IT, and fuel saving,  traffic jam, construction and entertainment, and measures to narrow the digital gap in rural areas.-VNA