Vietnam’s Trade and Technology Conference 2010 opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13, attracting 200 representatives from businesses operating in technology, banking and finance.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Tran Duc Lai said that over the past 10 years, Vietnam’s Information Technology and Communications (ICT) sector has thrived and obtained an annual growth in revenue of over 20 percent. This year, the sector is expected to earn 8.8 billion USD.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang, the focus of the development strategy on science and technology for the 2011-2020 period is to build and develop a sustainable sector, tap into the country’s human resources, culture and natural resources and ensure the country fully integrates into the international scientific community, helping to improve local human resources in the long term.

During the two-day conference, the participants will take part in group discussions on important issues for the future of the Vietnamese technological sector, including the States role in developing technologies and introducing the necessary legislation and tax policies.

Leaders from leading technology companies discussed global technological trends in the next five years and shared their views on opportunities and challenges that the companies are facing in emerging markets.

The conference also witnessed the signing of two cooperative agreements, between Hoa Lac Hi-tech Zone and the company SAVVi and between the IDG Venture Investment Fund and DFJ Vina Capital./.