For the expanded development space to become a genuine growth engine coupled with a source of competitive advantage, Dak Lak has identified science and technology (S&T), innovation and digital transformation (DX) as priorities to be integrated across all sectors, optimising value chains while shifting towards data-driven governance.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang of the Institute of Leadership Studies and Public Administration under the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics said that the merger should go beyond a mechanical increase in land area or population, it should strengthen the province through restructuring governance capacity while reorganising its development space. Dak Lak needs to rapidly establish an integrated “Highlands - Coastal Region” structure, closely connecting transport infrastructure, logistics, data, technology, markets and institutions.

Delegates performing the ceremony to launch the ‘Digital Map of Agricultural Products, OCOP Products and Tourism in Villages along with Hamlets of Dak Lak Province’ on a digital platform.

In practice, the provincial agricultural supply chains remain fragmented, deep-processing capacity is limited, while inter-regional connectivity infrastructure continues to face bottlenecks. Address these constraints at their root requires reorganising key value chains, including coffee, durian, rice and seafood.

Relevant sectors need to develop practical, specialised technological solutions tailored to each field, ranging from automation coupled with mechanisation to the AI application in crop monitoring and care.

The province also needs to introduce practical policies enabling private enterprises access funding for green development, circular agriculture, the data economy combined with AI. Enterprises should also be encouraged to assess their DX readiness while engaging more deeply in global value chains.

VN168 Technology JSC introducing technological solutions to enhance digital capacity.

For these breakthrough directions to move beyond theory, the government’s enabling role and the standardisation of data platforms are crucial. Comrade Bui Thanh Toan, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Department of S&T, affirmed that data is central to the shift from traditional administrative practices to modern governance. The province has put its Data Centre into operation, while departments and local authorities are completing specialised datasets for integration with a shared database alongside interoperability with national databases. The provincial Data Centre must operate in strict compliance with seven criteria: “Accurate - Complete - Clean - Live - Interconnected - Consistent - Shared”. It will serve as core infrastructure for administration and management, the development of digital government and the digital economy, while enabling residents and enterprises access as well as use open data.

As for the action-oriented approach, Dak Lak PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Y Nhuan Bya said the province was committed to building an ecosystem of close cooperation among the State, scientists and enterprises. Under this model, the State plays an enabling role by improving institutions and identifying practical challenges; scientists provide knowledge-based solutions; and enterprises take the initiative in commissioning, applying and commercialising products.

“Implementation will strictly follow the principle of ‘6 clarities and 1 consistent thread’: clear personnel, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear outcomes, clear resources and clear responsibilities, with continuity throughout leadership and management. This will ensure that every task is measurable, while progress progress can be effectively monitored and controlled. Dak Lak is gradually removing bottlenecks as well as turning its expanded development space into a powerful and sustainable engine of breakthroughs,” comrade Y Nhuan Bya affirmed.

Translated by KHUONG THAO