HCM City (VNS/VNA) - HCM City is drawing up awide-ranging plan to promote artificial intelligence (AI) developmentand research in the near future, Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of theHCM City People’s Committee, has said.

The municipal People’s Committee recently met withDeputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy to discussthe national AI strategy and organisation of a 2020Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day.

Duc said the city will prioritise investment in humanresources and work with the Ministry of Science and Technology in thefield of AI.

“City leaders of departments and agencies are readyand determined to support the AI development programme,” he said.

Duy said the ministry has drafted a national AIstrategy, focusing on transport, logistics, tourism, e-commerce,telecommunications, education, urban management, social management and publicadministration.

The draft strategy proposes building three AI innovationcentres in the country, one of which will be located in HCM City.

The city has a high density of universities, researchinstitutes and oganisations, and high volume of trade from more than 10million residents and 30,000 enterprises.

With this great potential, the city targets forming anAI ecosystem that will include close linkages between researchers andbusinesses, and encouragement from city authorities, departments andsectors.

The city has about 30 AI development programmes now beingdeveloped at universities and institutes, and has built adatabase of AI experts, AI research units and applications.

A board composed of members in AI research collaborationand application is also being formed.

Key economic sector 

The city’s Department of Information and Communications hassubmitted to the People's Committee a programme on research and development ofAI applications for the 2020-30 period, which calls for AI to become thecore technology in building a creative and smart city forrapid and sustainable economic development.

The programme aims to make AI a keytechnology in digital transformation. The AI industry will be one ofthe city's key economic sectors.

Under the proposal, the city will become the centrein the country and the region for research, deploymentand transfer of AI applications, and one of the leading cities in AIdevelopment in the ASEAN region.

The city will also mobilise investment capitalto develop AI businesses, brands, products and applications.

The committee and the ministry have agreed to hold theVietnam AI Festival on November 27-28 during the city'sInnovation and Startup Week slated for November 24-28./.