Ca Mau pioneers innovation and breakthroughs in digital transformation

Ca Mau - the southernmost land of the Fatherland - is affirming its aspiration to break through with a pioneering spirit in innovation and digital transformation, aiming for the goal of rapid and sustainable development, becoming a bright spot in the Mekong Delta region.

Aspirations from the land at the southernmost point of the Fatherland

Located in a particularly important strategic position, as a gateway connecting the Mekong Delta to the East Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, Ca Mau possesses great advantages in fisheries, renewable energy, marine economy and the richest forest-marine ecosystem in the country. However, this is also a locality strongly affected by climate change, rising sea levels and many other development challenges.

According to Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai, in order to grow strongly, Ca Mau "must go fast and be ahead" in applying science and technology and digital transformation.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai, Secretary of Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee. (Photo: Nhat Tan)

After the arrangement and merger of administrative units with Bac Lieu province, Ca Mau has entered a new stage of development with a larger scale, larger population and richer potential. On that foundation, the provincial leaders clearly identified the aspiration to build Ca Mau into a province with fast and sustainable development, a bright spot in the southernmost part of the country.

The important milestone that motivates this transformation journey is Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation.

Ca Mau identified this as a resolution "of the magnitude of the Contract 10 revolution in the field of science and technology", as it opens up a new development method - shifting from breadth to depth growth, taking knowledge, technology and data as the foundation.

Together with Resolution 66 (on innovation in law making and enforcement), Resolution 59 (on international integration) and Resolution 68 (on private economic development), Resolution 57 becomes "one of the four strategic pillars" in the new development stage of the country.

In Ca Mau, after Resolution 57 was issued, the Provincial Party Committee directed strongly and mobilized the participation of the entire political system. The Steering Committee on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation was established, unified in directing the entire province. Action Program No. 97-CTr/TU was born with 62 goals and 101 specific tasks, and has so far completed more than 58% of the 2025 plan.

In particular, the “Digital Literacy for All” movement has spread widely, helping cadres, party members and people improve their digital skills. A shared digital infrastructure and platform has been established, creating the premise for operating the two-level local government model after the merger.

From “Paperless Congress” to Digital Government

Ca Mau is demonstrating its pioneering spirit with many innovative digital transformation models. The “paperless” Party Congress has been successfully implemented in Hoa Thanh ward, Thoi Binh commune and Ninh Quoi commune, contributing to a sharp reduction in costs, increasing transparency and operational efficiency.

The province's reporting information system is now connected to the commune level, significantly reducing time and administrative pressure for the grassroots. From August 15, 2025, the province will receive non-territorial administrative procedures at the Public Administration Service Center for 37 commune-level units, with 2,200 public services; the remaining communes will implement the implementation from November 1, 2025.

Land and household registration data are digitized and effectively exploited in administrative procedure settlement, helping people not to have to resubmit documents, regardless of their place of residence or previous household registration.

Ca Mau focuses on implementing the movement "digital literacy".

In addition, Ca Mau has signed comprehensive cooperation agreements with Viettel, VNPT and FPT in deploying infrastructure and digital transformation solutions; and cooperated with the University of Queensland and Vingroup Foundation in in-depth research on Ca Mau crab - from seed production, farming technology, to gene sequencing projects for brand identification.

In particular, the province is promoting the establishment of the Ca Mau Digital Transformation Association - the first provincial-level association in the country to connect, share and spread the spirit of digital transformation to the whole society.

The Provincial People's Committee is also researching and submitting to the People's Council a resolution on a controlled testing mechanism (sandbox) - a legal framework that allows testing of new models, digital services and technologies, suitable to the strengths of the locality.

Along with the achievements, Ca Mau still faces many challenges that need to be solved. Digital infrastructure is still lacking in synchronization, especially in rural, remote and isolated areas. Digital human resources have not met the requirements, and digital transformation skills of officials and civil servants are still limited.

The number of enterprises operating in the field of science, technology and innovation is still small; the innovation ecosystem has not yet been clearly formed; the connection between the "three houses" - the State, schools and enterprises is still loose; the commercialization of research results is still slow. In addition, the issue of information security and data confidentiality is still a difficult problem.

If these restrictions are removed, they will become the "launching pad" for the next breakthrough development phase of Ca Mau.

Five Strategic Breakthroughs - The Foundation for the Digital Future

To realize the development aspiration, Ca Mau identified 5 strategic breakthrough groups in the coming period: Building an innovation ecosystem - forming and putting into operation the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Promoting comprehensive digital transformation, taking people and businesses as the center, considering data as a strategic resource;

Developing high-tech agriculture, smart agriculture associated with environmental protection and climate change adaptation; Developing new economic sectors: Renewable energy, marine economy, eco-tourism, logistics, exploiting seaport advantages; Training high-quality human resources, building a team of cadres, engineers, and entrepreneurs with digital thinking, creativity and technology mastery.

Ca Mau arranges competent staff in the fields of science, technology and digital transformation in parallel with the implementation of the two-level local government model. (Photo: Diem Phuong)

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai affirmed: "We are facing a golden opportunity for Ca Mau to break through, escape from traditional production thinking, and move towards a digital economy, green economy and sustainable development."

With the highest political determination, the consensus of the entire people and army, and concrete actions from today, Ca Mau has every basis to become a province with fast and sustainable development, a bright spot in the southernmost part of the country - a digitalized, creative Ca Mau, reaching out with the country in the era of knowledge and national aspirations.

Hoang Tho

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ca-mau-tien-phong-doi-moi-sang-tao-but-pha-chuyen-doi-so-ar971125.html