Ho Chi Minh City is piloting an AI-powered investment-promotion platform called HCMCInvest with a beta version. The platform aims to provide information about the investment environment, development directions, priority sectors, the list of investment-invitation projects, and collaboration opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City.
Built on AI, data and digital technology, HCMCInvest will gradually support information search, connect investors, analyze demand, monitor interest, and enhance the efficiency of interactions between government authorities and investors both domestically and internationally. Initially, the platform will feature about 250 projects across nine sectors in which Ho Chi Minh City is seeking investment.
A distinctive feature of HCMCInvest is the design and construction of five dashboard models to serve operations. In addition to the standard operator dashboard, the platform includes a separate dashboard for city leadership to manage and collect feedback from investors. There is also a dashboard for the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC) to coordinate and connect activities. Next is a dashboard for project owners to update information and finally a dashboard for investors to monitor project movements in real time.
HCMCInvest is guided by and commissioned by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. The specialized agencies, including ITPC, will organize management, coordination and exploitation. The development, construction and operation of the infrastructure are assigned to Arobid Technology Company.
Through HCMCInvest, Ho Chi Minh City will gradually modernize investment promotion towards a modern, transparent, data-driven and measurable approach. City leaders expect the platform to improve the quality of investment services, improve the investment climate and enhance competitiveness in the context of new development.
At the launch, city leaders said the platform would reduce the time investors spend on inquiries by presenting the investment environment online instead of requiring physical visits to government agencies, and would save resources for the city by reducing the need for separate investment-promotion events. They emphasized the importance of input from investors and businesses during the process of researching project information and using the platform, and said direct feedback would be welcomed to finalize the final version of the platform.
“I hope we will have a complete digital infrastructure that best serves investors and citizens, helping the city to have a transparent and modern investment environment for development,” he said.
Sharing with VnExpress, Mr. Tran Van Chin, Chairman of Arobid Technology Company, said one of the main directions in building HCMCInvest is to apply AI effectively and under control. AI plays a role in optimally and intelligently connecting transactions, without making trading decisions on behalf of government agencies or investors. To ensure accuracy, the data sources used to train the AI are standardized from the outset according to the criteria “enough - correct - clean - live,” ensuring information and algorithms are implemented in a healthy way. Arobid intends to measure substantive effectiveness to improve and evaluate the platform, continually collecting and analyzing information about interested countries, the number of investors following and subscribing to project information, specific information needs, the difficulties encountered, and investment plans.
“When all data is collected and digitized, investor care will improve dramatically compared with traditional investment-promotion methods,”
In parallel, the unit also cooperates with S&P Global — a leading global provider of data, financial analysis and credit ratings. Mr. Chin said the international partner, with 10 million corporate data points worldwide and experience evaluating the world's 500 largest listed companies, will understand the tastes and needs of foreign investors, thereby helping HCMCInvest attract capital more effectively.
