Having the “key” to open the digital economy door will help Northwestern provinces, including Điện Biên, build a cooperation network in the digital economy field - considered an important driving force for sustainable development.

Bringing digital technology to Điện Biên

In recent years, digital transformation and digital economy development have been identified as key tasks of Vietnam. However, in Northwestern provinces, including Điện Biên, technology infrastructure is still limited; the deployment of digital technology faces many difficulties. In that context, bringing the “Make in Vietnam” digital technology product ecosystem closer to authorities, enterprises, and people has particularly important significance. Resolution No.57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation has set a strategic direction for ministries, branches, and localities to vigorously implement digital transformation work. Grasping that spirit, Điện Biên province determines that the application of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation is not only a key task for socio-economic development but also an important solution helping to overcome difficult natural conditions, narrow geographical gaps, improve competitiveness, and create new development momentum.

Nguyễn Minh Phú, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, stated: The demand for digital transformation in Điện Biên is becoming clearer than ever, especially in 2 priority areas: Agriculture and tourism. Điện Biên possesses great advantages in land and climate with large-scale raw material areas such as macadamia, coffee, and rubber, along with 138 OCOP products. However, to increase value and expand the market, the locality urgently needs Make in Vietnam technology solutions serving traceability, supply chain management, quality forecasting, and especially measuring and appraising carbon credits - a development direction suitable for green agriculture trends. Regarding tourism, with the goal of welcoming over 1.45 million visitors in 2025, the province places expectations on VR/AR technologies recreating the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield, smart tourism systems, and centralized data platforms helping to improve visitor experiences and service quality of enterprises.

With the participation of over 300 delegates from ministries, branches, localities, institutes, schools, technology enterprises, and innovation support organizations, the Workshop on Trade Promotion, Investment and Promotion of “Make in Vietnam” Digital Technology Products to Promote Digital Economy Development and Digital Transformation in the Northwestern Region is considered a large-scale activity with the most direct impact on the digital transformation process of Northwestern provinces. Notably, the CheckVN traceability platform helps control agricultural product quality, especially highland specialty products. The VDAPES digital agriculture ecosystem supports from cultivation, seasonal management to product consumption, helping farmers increase productivity and reduce costs. Many AI application solutions in rice cultivation and greenhouse gas emission reduction were also presented. Digital cooperative models, e-commerce floors for agricultural products, Travel smart tourism management systems... attracted the attention of localities due to high feasibility and immediate deployability at the grassroots level.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyễn Thị Minh Tú, Head of the Faculty of Food Technology, Institute of Health Science and Technology (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), said: “Besides rice products, currently, Điện Biên province has many other key agricultural products such as: Coffee, macadamia, Shan Tuyết tea, pineapple, arrowroot vermicelli... These products all achieve OCOP standards, but the province’s key agricultural product group is mainly consumed locally. To improve the value of agricultural products, Điện Biên province needs to focus on applying technology to deep processing. In particular, implementing traceability and origin authentication; deep processing technology, and green technology in the food industry is a prerequisite.”

Promoting digital application

An important highlight of the workshop was the awarding of Geographical Indication Certificates for 3 specialty products of Điện Biên province. These are products with high economic value, assessed as fully capable of becoming regional agricultural brands of national stature if digital technology is applied for quality management and market expansion. Along with that, many important cooperation agreements were also signed, creating a long-term cooperation framework, contributing to promoting the innovation ecosystem of the Northwestern region.

Bringing “Make in Vietnam” solutions to Điện Biên is not only meaningful to the people but also helps enterprises expand markets and test products in specific conditions.

Participating in the exhibition booth within the framework of the workshop, Lò Thị Phương, a business household of Bếp nương Hà Bạc, Tuần Giáo commune, said: Currently, we have 3 dried meat products achieving 3-star OCOP. Applying digital technology to production and business activities has helped the family step by step expand the market, improve product quality, and increase revenue. In the coming time, I expect our province will have effective solutions to optimize, save costs, and digitize the agricultural production process.

Similarly, with an enterprise unit like VNPT Điện Biên, providing services to meet digital transformation needs has been promoted. Nguyễn Công Huân, Telecommunications Programming Engineer of Điện Biên, said: “Currently, the unit is providing digital services in many fields to meet the needs of organizations and people such as: Providing digital solutions and information technology applications meeting medical examination and treatment activities for 5 medical establishments in the province; providing digital service solutions and information technology applications meeting teaching and learning activities for 226 school educational establishments; 22,000 personal digital signature services for people and organizations. Especially, immediately after the 2-level government went into operation, VNPT ensured a separate transmission channel system for 45 communes and wards smoothly and effectively from the central to the commune level. Timely adjusting the administrative procedure resolution system according to the new model to avoid interrupting service to people and enterprises.”

From expectations and encouraging signals in local digital transformation, Điện Biên province has proposed that ministries and branches continue to accompany the province in connecting reputable experts, research organizations, and technology enterprises. At the same time, supporting the province in building brands, protecting intellectual property for key products, and guiding the application of new technology models suitable for local practical conditions. Điện Biên province commits to always accompanying and creating the most favorable conditions regarding mechanisms and policies for digital technology enterprises to deploy technology products and solutions in the area. Điện Biên wishes enterprises to provide solutions suitable for highland conditions, easy to deploy, with reasonable costs, bringing substantive efficiency to people and enterprises in the province.