Digital Economy – Phu Tho’s New Growth Driver

From production and business to governance, the digital economy is becoming increasingly present in Phu Tho’s economic life. Digital infrastructure receives dedicated investment, and enterprises are step-by-step transforming operating methods—thereby expanding growth spaces, elevating productivity, competitiveness, and the overall quality of the province’s development.

From Technology to Economic Resiliency

Over the first 8 months of 2026, Phu Tho’s economy maintained positive growth momentum. The Industrial Production Index (IIP) increased by 21.8% over the same period last year, with manufacturing and processing alone rising by 22.3%. Total retail sales of consumer goods and service revenues reached over 109,667 billion VND, up 16.8%; transport revenues grew by 19.6%.

Diversifying promotional channels and connecting with customers serves as a pathway helping businesses expand markets in the digital economy era.

In this flow, digital technology is no longer the exclusive domain of technology companies. From factories, stores, and cooperatives to household businesses, methods of production, sales, payments, and customer outreach are changing day by day.

Statistics show that Phu Tho’s digital economy scale is currently estimated to account for 22.71% of GRDP, ranking 3rd out of 34 provinces and cities. The entire province hosts approximately 600 enterprises operating in digital technology, with total export value of digital industrial products exceeding USD 7 billion. Electronics manufacturing, computers, and optical products are becoming crucial industrial sub-sectors, generating substantial export value.

These figures demonstrate that the digital economy in Phu Tho no longer stops at applying software or uploading products online, but is step-by-step penetrating value-creation processes.

Sharing on this issue, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong emphasized: “The digital economy not only creates a new economic sector, but more importantly, is altering operating methods of traditional economic sectors—helping businesses reduce costs, expand markets, and elevate productivity.”

In 2026, the province targets the digital economy to contribute a minimum of 23% to GRDP; 70% of transactions to be cashless; at least 60% of small and medium-sized enterprises to utilize digital platforms; and at least 50% of enterprises to employ electronic contracts.

These objectives are measured not merely by percentages or numbers, but reflect the transformation of production management, business execution, and market connection methods.

Enterprises Turning Technology into Value

If digital infrastructure serves as the foundation, enterprises are the primary entities putting the digital economy into practice. Digital transformation creates value only when technology converts into productivity, revenue, market share, and competitive products.

In the first 8 months of the year, Phu Tho recorded 3,265 newly established enterprises with total registered capital of 34.6 trillion VND. This represents a vital force adopting new technology, shaping new business models, and generating additional growth momentum from the private sector.

For manufacturing firms, digital transformation can begin with specific actions: digitizing management processes, managing inventory with data, tracking orders via software, automating operational stages, or leveraging digital platforms for customer outreach. When synchronously deployed, these changes help businesses cut costs, limit errors, and boost productivity.

Mr. Bui Xuan Truong, Production and Business Manager at Young Poong Electronics Vina Co., Ltd. (Ba Thien 2 Industrial Park), shared: “Previously, managing orders, raw materials, and production progress relied on many manual steps. After applying enterprise management software and digitizing processes, tracking orders, inventory, and production schedules is executed on a unified system—reducing processing time, minimizing errors, and elevating productivity.”

From inventory management and payments to customer connectivity, digital technology is becoming increasingly evident in retail business activities in Yen Lac commune.

Beyond manufacturing, digital technology opens new opportunities for trade, retail, cooperatives, and household businesses. Through online platforms, local specialty products can reach beyond traditional markets to access customers across multiple provinces and cities.

Ms. Au Thi Kim Phuong, Director of Minh Phuc An Agricultural Processing Joint Stock Company (Tam Dao commune), shared: “Previously, cooperative products were sold mainly to familiar customers and local distributors. Since listing products on online platforms, we have gained customers across many other provinces and cities. Customers can view products, place orders, and pay right on their phones, making sales far more convenient than before.”

Data Opening Space for Development

The digital economy is also driving changes across the public sector. Phu Tho has deployed 6 national databases, 7 key specialized databases, and 47 specialized databases managed by the province; 100% of land data is synchronized, and 100% of educational institutions utilize digital report cards. Across the province, 148 out of 148 communes and wards have established Community Digital Technology Teams.

Notably, the province is step-by-step transitioning from traditional management methods to data-driven governance. A real-time growth management and operational system built on data platforms incorporates artificial intelligence to analyze, issue warnings, and support decision-making.

When data is connected, shared, and effectively exploited, it becomes not just a management tool, but a new development resource. Procedures are processed faster, businesses access public services more conveniently, and market information or production-business activities can be analyzed more accurately.

For the digital economy to truly serve as a growth driver, Phu Tho needs to continue perfecting digital infrastructure, raising human resource quality, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing appropriate technology, and guaranteeing data safety and cybersecurity.

More importantly, digital transformation must go into substance. Not every enterprise needs expensive technology or complex systems; the essential requirement is selecting the right technology suited to needs that solves specific production and business challenges.

With large development room across industry, agriculture, trade, logistics, and tourism, Phu Tho possesses the conditions to drive digital economy spillovers. When traditional economic sectors are better connected with technology, created value will emanate not only from digital technology fields, but spread across the entire economy.

In the 8-month growth picture, the digital economy is step-by-step transforming from a trend into a vital component of the economy, opening additional development space and creating new momentum for Phu Tho on its journey ahead.

Quang Nam