HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Enterprises in export processing zones (EPZs) andindustrial parks (IPs) should use high technologies to better managemanufacturing processes and improve product quality.

“We can fullyexpect a future where everything will be automatic, people's living standardswill be higher, and machines will serve instead of human in manyfunctions," said Cao Thi Phi Van, Deputy Director of the HCM CityInvestment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC).

Tran ThienLong, deputy head of the HCM City Export Processing Zones and IndustrialParks Authority (Hepza), said the city has set a goal to have all EPZs andIPs being “green, clean and hi-tech” by 2025 and build new hi-tech zonesfor supporting industries.

Prioritywill be given to current investors in hi-tech especially those applyingthe Industry 4.0, and support industries with high value-addition, he said.

Speaking ata meeting on smart industrial parks last week, Lam Nguyen Hai Long,director of Quang Trung Software Park, pointed out that in smartindustrial parks, everything will be appended to sensors and IoT (Internet ofThings) devices, allowing businesses to have a comprehensive understandingabout equipment and machines being used in industrial parks.

AIsystems will give directions and automatically correct errors ofdevices. Therefore, daily duties will be solved quickly and operation processeswill go smoothly without much interruption.

“In thefuture, we can also expect robots and humans working together.” 

The fourthIndustrial Revolution has significantly changed the manufacturing process.Enterprises that want to maintain and develop for a long time willhave to enter the technological race to promote their productionmodels, he noted.

Smartindustrial parks can offer enterprises competitive advantages aseverything is automatic and digitised. Enterprises can easily controlan entire system with a mobile phone, reducing dependence onlabourers. Very few people are needed to operate the model as everythingis determined quickly and automatically by computers and AI systems. 

Workers’jobs will consist of operating systems and checking for arisingproblems. Workers will also have the responsibility of solving complexproblems that are beyond the capabilities of computers. 

Challenges facing IPs

In HCMCity, EPZ and IP infrastructure, mostly built in the 1990s, has  deteriorated,especially wastewater treatment facilities, with a number of central wastewatertreatment systems found to have violated environmental regulations.

Manycompanies seeking to expand cannot find enough land for lease, andrentals are priced too high compared to EPZs and IPs in neighbouringprovinces. 

In addition,roads near EPZs and IPs are often overloaded, leading to higher productioncosts for tenants and limiting their competitiveness.

Otherproblems include lack of schools, accommodations and medical facilitiesfor workers and their families, experts said. 

The limitedavailability of skilled IT and management personnel is another problem.

To addressthese issues, administrative procedures related to investment, labour andconstruction in EPZs and IPs need to be simplified to attract foreigninvestment. The quality of life and working environment for workers alsomust be improved, experts said.

The meetingalso presented more than 20 technology products and solutions forproduction, management and business activities at IZs and EPZs in HCMCity. 

The eventwas held as part of a series of smart industrial park workshops by ITPC, HCM CityExport Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA), and Quang TrungSoftware Park./.