Can Tho (VNS/VNA) - CanTho, the most populated city in the Mekong Delta region, has achievedoutstanding results in developing a project to build a smart city after nearlytwo years of implementation. 

Vo Thi Hong Anh, Vice Chairwomanof the Can Tho City People’s Committee, said the project aims to make the cityto become the first smart city in the southwestern region by 2025.

A smart city enhances civicengagement in urban management, with the aim of improving competitiveness andsocio-economic development, she said.

To achieve the goal, Can Thowill use modern information technology and improve State management and thequality of life, she said.

Can Tho’s agencies have manyplans to achieve the goal. 

The Department of Planning andInvestment is building technical platforms to develop an e-government model,while the Department of Transport has started using IT to manage urbantransport services.

Two years ago, Can Tho citysigned a cooperation agreement with the Vietnam Posts and Communications Group(VNPT) to develop its smart city project by 2025.

Under the project, VNPT has setup a smart city framework system, including an Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT) and smart city solution framework, ensuring that the solutionsof all developers can run on this platform.

Can Tho and VNPT have worked toapply a range of information technologies in city administrative activities tobetter serve people and businesses.

Do Hoang Trung, Director of CanTho city’s Department of Information and Communications, said the city isbuilding an intelligent operating centre connected with information technologysystems to monitor socio-economic targets and the government’s performance. 

The centre will supervise theeducation and tourism sectors and monitor residents’ feedback, ensuring urbanorder and security.

In addition, Can Tho will useMy City app, a mobile platform with a built-in camera system and an intelligentsecurity surveillance, to receive and resolve residents’ feedback on publicservices.

The city will also applyinformation technology in management of traffic safety; informationsecurity and safety; food safety and hygiene; environmental protection, as wellas land use management.

In addition, intelligent parkingsystems at tourist destinations and integrated traffic management system,including traffic lights, signs and traffic flow analysis, will be set up. 

Can Tho will encourage theprivate sector to take part in the smart city project by applying technologiesand innovation in providing services to the public. 

Experts said enterprises play amajor role in the socio-economic development of smart urban areas, which shouldbe supported with infrastructure and incentive policies based on moderntechnology. 

To ensure the project’sschedule, the Department of Information and Communications will seek experts’opinions in implementing the smart city plan./.