HCM CITY — HCM City authorities have decided to pilot several “smart city” proposals in districts 1 and 12, as well as the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area, based on ideas from experts and research conducted by local agencies.  

Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, said an executive board for the project would evaluate smart-city solutions proposed by experts before submitting them to city authorities.

At a seminar on June 13, the city People’s Committee, Government agencies and 40 experts met to discuss solutions for the “smart city” project.

Last year, the People’s Committee approved the plan called “Development of HCM City into a Smart City in the 2017-20 period, with a vision to 2025”.

The city is now calling for investment and expects domestic and foreign enterprises to participate in the project.

At the seminar, experts and representatives of agencies proposed the creation of a smart-city administration centre, a synchronised lighting system, socio- economic forecasting, an intelligent educational system, and an emergency operation centre, among others.

Trần Minh Tuấn, deputy director of the National Institute of Information and Communications Strategy, said a master plan for the project must include information on financial resources, investment, information services, and decentralisation of State management units.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhàn, president and CEO of Advanced International Co (AIC), said that AIC had been working with more than 10 countries to research and evaluate “smart city” projects, especially for the new administration centre, a socio-economic forecasting centre, and flood prevention projects.

Smart city solutions are important as the city faces rapid urbanisation, population growth and depletion of natural resources, he said.

The city aims to become a centre of trade, finance, science and technology in Southeast Asia. — VNS