HCM CITY – The International Technology Exhibition (iTECH EXPO 2026) opened in HCM City on September 30, bringing together nearly 100 exhibition booths from more than 200 domestic and international technology organisations and businesses, with over 1,000 technology products, devices and solutions on display.

Running until October 2 at the Queen Plaza Kỳ Hòa Convention Centre, the expo themed "New Tech, Innovation Unleashed" aims to connect businesses with partners and markets while promoting investment, technology transfer and commercialisation.

Organised by the HCM City Computer Association (HCA) in collaboration with Alta Media and partners, the expo is among activities marking National Digital Transformation Day on October 10 and contributes to implementing the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on advancing science, technology and innovation to support national industrialisation and modernisation.

According to organisers, this year's expo has expanded considerably, with the number of technology products and solutions roughly doubling from 2025. Registered visitors come from more than 20 countries and territories.

Lâm Nguyễn Hải Long, chairman of HCA and head of the organising committee, said the most notable change at iTECH EXPO 2026 lies in the strategic shift in the exhibition structure. 

“Instead of focusing solely on software solutions like in previous years, this year's event features a major transformation: hardware, network infrastructure, robotics, and especially the chip, integrated circuit and semiconductor ecosystem account for nearly 45 per cent of the total exhibition space, running alongside leading software and digital transformation platforms."

The expo also features more than 20 seminars and thematic discussions involving over 100 technology experts and industry leaders. Topics include AI ASIC chips, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, circular agriculture, construction and urban management, as well as AI applications in education and the cultural industries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hoàng Minh, deputy minister of Science and Technology, said iTECH EXPO provided a venue for showcasing new technology trends and highly applicable solutions, while connecting businesses with partners and markets and promoting investment, technology transfer and commercialisation.

The event takes place as Việt Nam accelerates the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, with digital technology businesses playing an increasingly important role.

Resolution 57-NQ/TW and the Law on Digital Technology Industry No. 71/2025/QH15 have provided additional policy directions and a legal framework for developing the digital technology, semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries.

In the first nine months of 2026, digital technology industry revenue was estimated at VNĐ5.4 quadrillion, up 34.8 per cent year-on-year. Hardware and electronics exports reached about US$176.82 billion, while the country had around 82,700 digital technology enterprises employing approximately two million people.

Minh said these results also highlighted the need to strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese digital technology businesses, with technological capacity becoming a core component.

Businesses should move from primarily adopting and using technology towards mastering, improving and developing technologies, while linking technological capacity with product and service development and market expansion, he said.

He also called for stronger links within the digital technology ecosystem and greater international cooperation. Vietnamese businesses should proactively seek technology, partners and international markets, improve their ability to meet international standards and participate more deeply in global value chains.

The ministry also encouraged international technology companies to view Việt Nam as a long-term market and partner and strengthen investment, research and development, technology cooperation, workforce training and partnerships with Vietnamese businesses.

He expressed confidence that “iTECH EXPO 2026 would create further opportunities for cooperation, technology application and market expansion for domestic and international digital technology businesses.” — VNS