QTSC: An IT ecosystem in the pipeline

After 14 years of operation, Quang Trung Software City (QTSC) is now developing an information technology (IT) ecosystem and expanding the QTSC chain to other parts of the country.

The IT ecosystem is an interactive ecological system whose factors have strong reciprocal relationship among a sustainable, friendly and green environment; developed infrastructure ready for future technology orientation; investment incentives issued by the central and local governments; one-door services; human resources training and incubation facilities; and a community of IT enterprises.

“At QTSC, we are developing the IT ecosystem on the right track to create a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the IT sector of the city and the country,” says Nguyen Duc Hien, chairman cum director of QTSC. “I can say that a park in Vietnam has yet to acquire all the factors that form an IT ecosystem. However, in the near future, QTSC and its chain will come up with such an ecosystem for the first time in Vietnam.”

To be able to develop the ecosystem, over the past 14 years, QTSC has spared no efforts to build a strong brand and trust among local and international investors. The park has attracted several leading IT companies in the world. QTSC is now home to some 120 IT businesses, 51 of which are foreign-invested entities. More than 16,600 persons are working and studying in the park, including 6,915 engineers and 9,740 students. With more than 140 software products and services in such fields as retail, construction, real estate, tourism, education, healthcare, transport, accounting, business administration, automation and telecommunication, QTSC has been a cradle for high-quality software products and solutions of international standards.

Last year, QTSC obtained total revenue of VND3,797.46 billion (US$181 million), up 132.6% from 2013. Such a result was attributed partly to the park’s supports for enterprises operating in it. Aside from eight CEO Club meetings, two HR Club meetings, two Investors Club meeting and IT enterprises meetings, QTSC has assisted 149 enterprises in one-door services such as business start-up consulting, visa application, import-export procedures and land use right certification. The meetings have enabled the authority of QTSC to better understand businesses’ operations to help them cope with difficulties.

In addition, QTSC has also organized communication programs which promote products and services of enterprises operating in QTSC. The park has also cooperated with the HCMC People’s Committee, the Department of Information and Communication and the HCMC Computing Association in carrying out trade promotion trips at home and abroad. 
Developing the QTSC chain 
Hien says that QTSC’s success has considerably contributed to the establishment of the model of concentrated IT parks stipulated in the IT Law and Decree No. 154/201/ND-CP by the Government. The development of the QTSC chain is the next step. “Developing the chain will help optimize the brands of QTSC and of the software industry, making use of experience and capacity of the Vietnamese IT workforce that win confidence of international investors and multinationals,” says Hien.

On March 10, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued a note requesting the HCMC People’s Committee to plan a project to establish the QTSC chain which will be forwarded to the ministry for consideration and approved by the Prime Minister. As per the initial plan, the chain will consist of seven parks, five of which will be built in HCMC and the other two in Dalat City (Lam Dong Province) and Nam Dinh Province.

QUANG TRUNG Software city turns 14

Quang Trung Software City held a ceremony to celebrate its 14th anniversary on March 20. At the function, QTSC and several individuals received certificates of merit from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Public Security. On this occasion, QTSC honored 12 enterprises winning “The Top Enterprises of the Year 2014” awards, four enterprises which have operated in the software park for 10 years and one for five years. Prizes for the winners of the “Together for a Green QTSC” contest, the “Green QTSC in My Eyes” photo contest, the “Rice of Love” charity program (raising more than two tons of rice) and sports competitions were also awarded at the event.

By Trung Chau – The SaigonTimes Weekly