Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City's Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) and the Global Technology and Telecommunications Corporation (GTEL) on July 17 signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on system integration research and technology transfer for Ho Chi Minh City's metro network, aiming to gradually master core urban railway technologies.
The partnership will initially focus on Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong) and metro projects scheduled for 2026–2030.
The two sides will study and localise key technologies covering signalling, communications, power supply, electromechanical systems (E&M), SCADA, operations control centres (OCC), automatic fare collection (AFC) and platform screen doors (PSD), while advancing technology transfer, workforce development and the capabilities of domestic enterprises.
The agreement also includes collaboration on applying advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, building information modelling (BIM), geographic information systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, electronic identification (eID) and other digital solutions to improve metro operations, maintenance and management. The partners aim to develop an integrated operations control centre for Ho Chi Minh City's future metro network and build a pool of Vietnamese engineers and companies capable of designing, integrating, operating and maintaining metro systems.
GTEL Chairman Senior Colonel Luong Duc Minh said the company would leverage its expertise in digital technology, digital transformation and cybersecurity to support the MAUR in system integration and technology transfer, helping strengthen domestic technological capabilities.
Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating metro development with a target of building around 200 km of urban rail by 2030 under the Politburo's Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW on the city's development in the new era.
MAUR Director Phan Cong Bang said metro investment must go beyond infrastructure construction to include technological self-reliance, data ownership and the development of Vietnam's domestic capabilities in urban rail.
He expressed confidence that the partnership will help establish a locally driven urban rail technology ecosystem and support the sustainable expansion of the city's metro network.
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Hoang Nguyen Dinh called for standardised technology architecture and shared data systems, stronger technology transfer, workforce training, enhanced domestic industrial capacity and safeguards to ensure Vietnam's control over transport data.
He reaffirmed the city's commitment to supporting research, technology transfer and the development of the railway industry to build a modern, smart and sustainable public transport system.
The agreement marks the start of a long-term partnership on system integration and technology transfer, laying the groundwork for stronger domestic technological capabilities, a highly skilled workforce and greater participation by Vietnamese companies in the urban railway value chain./.
VNA
