HCM City (VNA) – Building an innovation-friendly ecosystem is vital for Vietnamese businesses to enhance competitiveness, expand international cooperation, and achieve sustainable growth in the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) era, experts said at Cicon International Forum 2025 held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23.
Themed event was jointly organised by Cicon Korea and Q&S Entertainment Group, attracting around 500 policymakers, economists, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals from Vietnam and other countries.
Key topics discussed at the forum included smart cities and future urban models, AI applications in urban management, education, and content creation, ASEAN regional cooperation for industrial and cultural convergence, and emerging trends such as DeFi and smart urban agriculture.
Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, President of the Institute of Economics and Enterprise Development, said global economic restructuring is being driven by two major trends of green transition and digital transformation, which are now essential for sustainable growth and global integration. He noted that the Republic of Korea, a leader in core technologies, offers valuable models and technologies that Vietnamese firms can learn from to build innovative and sustainable urban economies.
He added that the Government's Resolutions No. 68 and 57 have provided a legal foundation for private enterprises to modernise their operations and participate more deeply in global supply chains.
Enterprises should strengthen cooperation, apply advanced technologies, and innovate to contribute to greener and smarter cities, he said.
Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association, emphasised that knowledge, technology, and data have become the key competitive advantages replacing cheap labour and natural resources.
Innovation and technology are now the main drivers of business growth, she said, adding that AI and a culture of innovation are the association’s strategic focus moving forward./.
