(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s young population is considered potential to develop its software industry. Many Vietnamese businesses have outlined strategies to create software products branded made-in-Vietnam. In this week’s Economy segment, VOV’s To Tuan examines the issue.

Japanese clinets attended inauguration ceremony of FPT Software village in Hoa Lac High-tech Park in 2011. (Photo: http://chungta.vn)

Despite continuing economic woes, Vietnam’s software industry has maintained its export growth of 30%. The FPT Group, one of Vietnam’s leading software outsourcing firms, grew 30% in the first half of this year. According to the Viet Nam Software and IT Services Association, Japan and the US continue to be Vietnam’s traditional export markets. Each year, Japan spends about 10 billion USD on software programming, but last year FPT only earned 35 million USD working for Japanese clients. In the first half of this year, FPT and other Vietnamese software firms signed orders worth millions of USD with foreign clients. However, programming only brings in small revenues for Vietnam. Vietnamese software companies need to design software packages for export. Global Cybersoft used to specialize in contract programming but with its retail management system, Global Cybersoft has changed its profile. The package is now widely used by the world’s leading retailers. Ngo Van Toan is the company’s Chief Executive Officer ‘Our strength is that we have participated in every step of development of the product package. Our experts have consulted clients about our product development solutions. This has helped us increase added-value for the whole software package.’

While Global Cybersoft targets retailers, TMA focuses on mobile and iPad solutions, smart electronic equipment, and telecommunications management software. Tran Hong is the Director of TMA Mobile Solutions ‘Over the past three years, TMA has gained a number of encouraging achievements and developed some specific products which have been welcomed in major markets. These include software for telecommunications management. Our European and Australian clients started to pilot it last year and it’s in operation now.’

Bach Khoa Antivirus (BKAV) is considered one of the most successful software firms in the domestic market. Nguyen Minh Duc, Director of BKAV’s Security Division, said the firm is thinking about taking its product abroad ‘The software industry has more advantages than other sectors. If we want to penetrate new markets, it’s not necessary to go to these markets to talk to clients or for promotion or advertising. We can do all that via the Internet or other remote advertising channels. We plan first to advertise in the US, which has relatively high demand for utility software.’

Seeing software’s potential for socio-economic growth, the Vietnamese government has created policies and incentives to advance the industry’s growth. Two software centers have been established – one of FPT Group in the Lang Hoa Lac High – Tech Park in Hanoi, and the Quang Trung Software Center in Ho Chi Minh City.  

To Tuan