Workshop discusses solutions for developing smart city ecosystem

On November 1, as part of DIGIFEST Dong Nai 2026, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Construction, in coordination with relevant agencies, organized a thematic workshop titled " Developing an Ecosystem of Smart Logistics Cities, Airports and Seaports."

The workshop was attended by Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Authority of Digital Transformation under the Ministry of Science and Technology; and representatives of relevant departments, sectors, and units.

Duong Van Hieu, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Construction, delivers opening and introductory remarks at the workshop. Photo: Hai Quan

Speaking at the workshop, Duong Van Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said the workshop's theme, "Establishing a Digital Logistics Ecosystem Integrating Airports, Seaports, and Industrial Parks," went beyond the application of digital technologies to transportation and warehousing operations. He emphasized that the event was also about an issue of strategic importance to spatial development planning, infrastructure investment, and efforts to enhance Dong Nai City's competitiveness in the coming period.

Discussions focused on four key areas: integrating planning with logistics infrastructure connectivity; studying models for logistics data connectivity and sharing; applying digital technologies with an emphasis on practical effectiveness; and improving coordination mechanisms and an implementation roadmap.

A speaker delivers a presentation at the workshop. Photo: Hai Quan

At the workshop, experts, speakers, and enterprises presented papers and engaged in discussions on modern supply chain management involving multiple models to support services linking urban areas, airports, seaports and industrial parks; developing a science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation ecosystem for airports, drawing on international lessons for Dong Nai; establishing a green and sustainable industrial ecosystem aimed at achieving net-zero emissions; and promoting investment in smart cities powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins. The event also featured a panel discussion themed "Connecting Infrastructure, Industrial Parks, Logistics, and Urban Areas: From Advantage to Productivity."

A discussion session at the workshop. Photo: Hai Quan

In his concluding remarks, Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Science and Technology, called on relevant departments, sectors, and units to continue compiling feedback and presentations from the workshop while adhering to the principle of "Real Challenges – Real Solutions – Real Results." He emphasized that challenges must arise from the actual operational needs of businesses and state management requirements. Solutions must be capable of integrating with existing systems and feasible for implementation under current conditions, while their effectiveness must be measurable against specific indicators. He also stressed the need to ensure that transportation, logistics, and data infrastructure are integrated from the planning stage.

Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director in charge of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology, delivers concluding remarks at the workshop. Photo: Hai Quan

At the same time, digital transformation and innovation solutions must place businesses at the center and adopt a step-by-step approach. Rather than seeking to build a large-scale ecosystem immediately, the approach is to focus on specific cargo flows and interconnected clusters where demand is clearly identified and businesses are ready to participate, allowing the results to be assessed as realistically as possible.

By Hai Quan – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha