Digital transformation: An inevitable trend for Dong Nai’s development

One of the breakthrough tasks highlighted in the draft political report for the first Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, 2025–2030 tenure, is the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Residents in Trang Dai ward complete administrative procedures with only a mobile phone integrated with VNeID, without the need to present any other ID documents. Photo: Cong Nghia

In the context of the fourth industrial  revolution and the digital economy reshaping all aspects of society, digital transformation is not only an inevitable trend but also a decisive factor for competitiveness and sustainable development of each locality, including Dong Nai.

Proactive in development

With the advantage of being one of the country’s leading provinces in developing industrial zones and socio-economic infrastructure, Dong Nai has in recent years actively advanced digital transformation across all sectors, achieving significant results.

Accordingly, science and technology activities and digital transformation have seen positive changes, contributing to boosting innovation, productivity, efficiency, and the province’s competitiveness. The province’s efforts have been focused on implementing science and technology tasks linked with practical needs, strengthening the mechanism of commissioning research, application, and technology transfer in sectors supporting socio-economic development and political system building.

In Dong Nai, digital transformation is closely linked with administrative reform and the building of e-government. Digital government projects in security, healthcare, and education have been implemented effectively. Modern and synchronized telecommunications infrastructure has been developed, with 4G/5G networks covering 100% of urban centers.

Dong Nai has achieved its target of building e-government, gradually developing a digital economy and digital society, forming a digital government. Online systems from the provincial to the communal levels have been synchronously deployed, ensuring information security. More than 90% of officials in provincial departments, sectors, and local People’s Committees at all levels have been trained in technology and digital transformation skills. The province’s service index for citizens and businesses has consistently ranked among the top 10 nationwide, and its digital transformation index is among the top 14 provinces and cities.

The province has also won several awards for digital transformation, such as Smart City Operations, Outstanding Digital Transformation State Agency, and the ASOCIO 2024 Award for the category of Outstanding Digital Government.

Building on these achievements and implementing the “four-pillar” breakthrough resolutions to usher Vietnam into a new era, including Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated November 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, Dong Nai has identified the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as one of its breakthrough tasks for 2025–2030 term. By 2030, digital economy is expected to account for more than 30% of the province’s GRDP.

Dr. Duong Van Thinh, an innovation and digital transformation expert at Veron Group, noted that Dong Nai, as a key southern industrial hub, particularly after merging with Binh Phuoc province, has become a large administrative unit with vast potential in natural resources, territory, and population. This opens a golden opportunity to build an integrated digital transformation model that maximizes the strengths of both areas: Dong Nai’s industrial base and Binh Phuoc’s agricultural and natural resource potential.

Dr. Thinh suggested prioritizing 5G networks in industrial zones; building a backbone fiber-optic system connecting the two regions with 100Gbps speed; and ensuring 100% of communes and wards have internet with a minimum speed of 100Mbps.

He also proposed building a data center in former Bien Hoa area to serve industry and in the former Dong Xoai area to serve agriculture and natural resources; integrating population, business, and land databases from the two former provinces into a unified system; applying artificial intelligence (AI) for macro- and microeconomic forecasting; developing integrated smart agriculture; creating a platform to manage the agricultural supply chain from production to export; and enhancing weather and disease forecasting system down to the commune level.

Further proposals include building a digital forestry economy, developing comprehensive digital workforce, devising policies to attract high-tech experts, and promoting digital transformation in multi-sector enterprises. All officials and civil servants must undergo basic information security training, while farmers must be provided with cybersecurity education.

Dr. Duong Van Thinh believed that successful digital transformation will play a crucial role in helping Dong Nai achieve an average annual GRDP growth of 10%.

Digital transformation and knowledge economy viewed as driving forces

To meet targets in science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation for 2025–2030 term, the draft political report for the Provincial Party Congress has outlined specific, practical measures. Among them are bold shifts in the growth model, with science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, the sharing economy, and the knowledge economy considered as the main drivers.

The province will effectively apply the latest achievements of the fourth industrial revolution to create breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy. The province will modernize its industry on the platforms of digital technology, smart technology, and green technology. Dong Nai also attracts investment in the development of aviation, semiconductors, chip production, artificial intelligence, automation equipment, and IT devices. Special policies will be issued to attract domestic and foreign experts and scientists to foster innovation and develop high-quality human resources.

Strengthening financial investment and developing science and technology capacity, along with promoting socialization of investment in science and technology, and innovation. The digital transformation will be comprehensively implemented in line with the Secretariat’s scheme on “Digital transformation in Party agencies.” The province also aims to achieve targets of the “Mass Digital Literacy Movement,” aligned with efforts to streamline and enhance the political system’s effectiveness.

For 2025–2030 term, the Party organization of Provincial Party Agencies has also identified one of three breakthrough areas as strengthening IT application and digital transformation in the activities of Party agencies and organizations, ensuring modern, synchronized systems that serve leadership, management, and Party activities effectively. Immediately after the Congress, the Party Committee of Provincial Party Agencies will lead the development of an action program for implementing the congress resolution, including a scheme on digital transformation in Party agencies.

Comrade Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Organization Commission, and Secretary of the Party Committee of Provincial Party Agencies

Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Council of Xuan Phu commune Lai The Thong shared: The commune’s Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee have determined that for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, it is essential to promote science and technology, foster innovation, and enhance internal strengths and harness local resources to the fullest

 A new point of the Party Congresses at all levels during this term is that all units in the province have identified digital transformation as one of  critical tasks to advance their development.

With a strong focus on the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, Dong Nai demonstrates its determination to lay the foundation for sustainable and comprehensive growth.

According to Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Secretary of Phuoc Long ward Party Committee, one of the ward’s breakthrough tasks for 2025–2030 term is to intensify digital transformation, apply science and technology, and foster innovation in political system agencies. The ward will also prioritize training and capacity-building to raise awareness of digital transformation, popularize digital skills among officials, Party members, and citizens, and cultivate a generation of digital citizens, a digital economy, and a digital society, contributing to local economic development and productivity.

By Phuong Hang-Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha