Phu Quoc island looks to become smart city

The VND67-billion (US$2.9 million) project was invested by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) with a view to improving the quality of public services and urban management efficiency.

The necessary condition to kick-start the building of a smart city is refining information technology and telecommunication infrastructure, and providing convenient services in tourism, transport, environment, healthcare, education and finance.

To that end, sub-projects include building a fiber optic cable network to connect the entire island, expanding the 4G network, and allowing the public access to wireless internet services as well as launching a social-tourism information portal, developing e-government and online residential management, monitoring environmental protection, installing a camera system, and managing healthcare, education, tourism, and forest fires.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Van Huynh said the move will help the province realize its target of developing Phu Quoc into a special administrative and economic unit and a high-quality eco-tourism hub in the country and beyond.

To implement the project effectively, the province is taking a number of measures to create a favourbale legal environment, promote the application of science and technology, and develop human resources in addition to raising public awareness and boosting domestic and foreign cooperation.

The project will contribute to modernising the administrative system, improving management capacity to better serve businesses and people, and making Phu Quoc one of the strongest e-government localities in the Mekong Delta.

The establishment of smart information systems will provide businesses and people with high-quality online services and reduce time and procedures in administrative transactions with the administration.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island covering an area of nearly 600 square kilometers and a population of over 100,000.