Hai Phong promotes regional connectivity through e-commerce

Attending the conference were Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City Hoang Minh Cuong, and leaders of the Departments of Industry and Trade from 15 provinces and cities in the Northern region. The conference was also attended by representatives from units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Departments of Industry and Trade of Hai Phong City and other Northern provinces, as well as businesses operating in the industrial, commercial, energy, and logistics sectors in Hai Phong City and the Northern region; and representatives from press and media agencies.

Substantive regional linkages need to be linked to the application of e-commerce and the enhancement of supply chain capabilities.

In his opening remarks at the Conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the Industry and Trade sectors in the northern provinces in fulfilling their tasks during the first nine months of 2026. Emphasizing that the last three months of 2026 are crucial for achieving the year's goals and laying the foundation for 2027, the Deputy Minister requested that units under the Ministry and the Departments of Industry and Trade in the northern provinces and cities coordinate closely, clearly define solutions and responsibilities for achieving the set targets, and focus on resolving difficulties and obstacles at the local level. He also urged them to quickly concretize regional linkages into feasible tasks and plans.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai speaks at the 12th Northern Region Industry and Trade Conference (Photo: Industry and Trade Magazine)

Sharing the same view as the Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong City People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong stated that for regional linkages to become truly effective, they need to be linked to green transformation and the application of e-commerce, improving energy efficiency, developing cleaner production, e-commerce, and market information systems. In particular, support should be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their capacity to meet the standards of domestic and international supply chains.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong, and other leaders witnessed the signing ceremony at the conference (Photo: Industry and Trade Magazine).

Within the framework of the Conference, a cooperation agreement was signed to implement e-commerce to promote exports in the period 2026-2030 between the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) and the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade; and between the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade and several e-commerce platforms and technology solution providers to promote the development of e-commerce in the city.

As part of the 2026 Northern Region Industry and Trade Conference, the "Connecting Regions, Expanding Markets" e-commerce trade fair, jointly organized by the E-commerce Department and the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, is a highlight, harmoniously combining training programs/workshops and live streaming sessions; along with booths showcasing and promoting characteristic products and OCOP products from Hai Phong and other provinces and cities in the Northern region.

Overview of the e-commerce trade fair "Connecting Regions, Expanding Markets" organized by the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with eComDX.

Following the success of the e-commerce and livestreaming sales skills training conference in Hai Phong city on October 1st, on October 2nd, the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Center for E-commerce Development (eComDX), continued to organize a conference on disseminating laws and applying digital technology in e-commerce with the theme "From Policy to Practice".

Representatives of the organizing committee pose for a photo with KOL Thanh Huong at the livestream session promoting Hai Phong specialties, connecting digitally, and reaching out to all regions.

The conference was attended by Ms. Vu Thi Kim Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Hai Phong City; Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan - Director of the Center for E-commerce Development, Department of E-commerce (Ministry of Industry and Trade); Mr. Le Duc Thuan - Head of the E-commerce Department - FPT Polytechnic Hai Phong; Ms. Quach Ai Quyen, Manager of Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnership Projects at TikTok Shop; Mr. Mai Dinh Ngoc - Media Soft Group Joint Stock Company; and nearly 200 participants representing businesses, cooperatives, business households, and a large number of students and young entrepreneurs in Hai Phong City.

From propaganda, the focus shifts to experience and practical application.

In her opening remarks at the training conference on October 2nd, Ms. Vu Thi Kim Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Hai Phong City, stated that, along with the process of promoting e-commerce and developing the digital economy, the city is gradually perfecting its e-commerce ecosystem, supporting businesses, cooperatives, and business households in applying digital platforms, improving the efficiency of production and business operations, expanding consumer markets, and promoting exports.

According to the Deputy Director, today's conference on disseminating legal information and applying digital technology in e-commerce is being implemented to provide comprehensive support, from state management at the local level to the practical production and business activities of the business community and young entrepreneurs in Hai Phong.

Ms. Vu Thi Kim Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Hai Phong City

The highlight of the Conference was the combination of legal knowledge and management orientation with practical, direct, and highly applicable activities, ranging from dissemination of information to hands-on experience and practical application.

 “ This conference is of practical significance, updating knowledge and new legal regulations on e-commerce, supporting businesses, cooperatives, and business households in accessing, managing, and effectively utilizing digital tools, ” - the leader of the Department of Industry and Trade assessed. 

Creating a transparent, safe, competitive, and sustainable e-commerce market.

Presenting at the conference on the theme "E-commerce Law: Creating a Safe, Transparent, and Sustainable Digital Ecosystem," Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan, Director of the E-commerce Development Center (eComDX), summarized a set of ten key points in the Code of Conduct, numbered from 1 to 10. The Code is concise, easy to remember, and focuses on the core requirements of the 2025 E-commerce Law and Decree 248/2026/ND-CP, such as: data storage and contracts; verification of seller and livestreamer identities; delineation of responsibilities according to platform types; responsibilities of entities and mechanisms for joint liability in case of violations; consumer protection; record and information management and privacy policies; e-commerce data monitoring; and requirements for long-term storage and management.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan - Director of the Center for E-commerce Development (eComDX)

Emphasizing the significance of the promulgation of the E-commerce Law and its guiding decree, Mr. Tuan stated that the new regulations mark a shift from extensive e-commerce development to transparent, responsible, and sustainable development, in which businesses, sellers, and platforms must proactively "comply before selling." This also serves as a basis for limiting fake accounts, counterfeit goods, false advertising, and other acts that infringe on consumer rights.

In this process, the E-commerce Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade plays a crucial role in guiding and disseminating policies, building and operating e-commerce management systems and databases, supporting businesses in compliance, monitoring and handling violations within its authority, thereby contributing to the formation of a transparent, safe, competitive, and sustainably developing e-commerce market.

Effectively implementing Criterion 7.3 helps localities "rise to prominence". 

Continuing his presentation as an expert from the Department of E-commerce, Mr. Tuan introduced Criterion 7.3 – “Effective Implementation of E-commerce Activities” – to the conference participants in the National Criteria Set for New Rural Communes in the 2026-2030 period. According to Mr. Tuan, Criterion 7.3 requires e-commerce to become a practical part of economic development in communes, not just focusing on whether or not online buying and selling activities are taking place, but aiming towards forming an efficiently operating e-commerce ecosystem.

Criterion 7.3 includes: enhancing digital capacity and skills for business entities, managers, and the public; building community-based e-commerce support groups; and promoting the genuine participation of local entities in digital business activities. Mr. Tuan emphasized that, therefore, e-commerce becomes a tool for expanding markets, increasing the value of local products, supporting the consumption of agricultural products and OCOP products, and gradually creating more momentum for the development of the digital economy in rural areas.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan introduced to the leaders the series of activities within the framework of the E-commerce Fair "Connecting Regions, Expanding Markets".

The Director of eComDX emphasized that, for Criterion 7.3 to be implemented effectively, synchronously, and sustainably, the role of the Department of E-commerce in state management is crucial in guiding and supporting localities. Therefore, along with disseminating laws and raising awareness, the Department of E-commerce has focused on guiding and training management staff in the management, inspection, supervision, and enforcement of laws in e-commerce; while also promoting the collection, standardization, connection, and exploitation of data, and improving the capacity for e-commerce statistics at the local level.

One of the effective solutions that the Department of E-commerce is collaborating with TikTok Shop to implement is the "Local Empowerment" initiative, aimed at promoting e-commerce from the provincial and city levels down to the commune and ward levels, and gradually bringing digital business capabilities closer to local communities.

Ms. Quách Ái Quyên - Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnerships Projects at TikTok Shop

Introducing this model at the conference, Ms. Quach Ai Quyen - Manager of Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnership Projects at TikTok Shop - stated that TikTok Shop has effectively implemented this model in collaboration with the Department of E-commerce in several localities (such as Binh Lu, Than Uyen - Lai Chau; Cho Lach - Vinh Long; Phuong Duc, Bat Trang - Hanoi…) to enhance the e-commerce application capacity of these localities and strengthen the promotion of local products and images on digital platforms, thereby expanding market access opportunities.

AI is just one step on the journey to building an effective and sustainable e-commerce business.

During a discussion with businesses and young entrepreneurs on the topic of AI, Mr. Le Duc Thuan, Head of the E-commerce Department at FPT Polytechnic Hai Phong, stated that AI is gradually becoming a practical tool for businesses. According to an OECD survey, over 5,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in seven countries are using AI; of these, 65% find that AI helps improve employee productivity. This shows that AI is no longer just a concern for large corporations but is opening up opportunities for SMEs in Vietnam in general, and Hai Phong in particular, to enhance their operational capabilities.

However, effective AI applications shouldn't start by chasing after a specific tool, but rather by addressing the core business problem. Businesses can leverage existing data, deploy AI first in small, daily tasks, then measure its effectiveness using specific metrics and gradually expand. Simultaneously, the application process must be accompanied by control measures, ensuring data security, legal compliance, and responsible AI usage.

Mr. Le Duc Thuan - Head of the E-commerce Department - FPT Polytechnic Hai Phong

"AI is not the destination, but a step on the journey to building an effective and sustainable e-commerce business"  - this was also the central message emphasized by Mr. Thuan in his sharing session with businesses and young entrepreneurs in Hai Phong.

One-person businesses - The new productivity revolution.

Continuing the discussion on AI, Mr. Mai Dinh Ngoc from Media Soft Group Joint Stock Company introduced the concept and operation of the "One-Person Enterprise." According to Mr. Ngoc, this model is becoming a noteworthy trend in the context of the increasing prevalence of AI and digital tools. Instead of building a large team to handle many different positions, an individual can leverage technology to support everything from research, content creation, marketing, customer service, to analysis and business operations. AI is therefore contributing to expanding the capabilities of a single person, helping ultra-lean businesses create workloads and value that previously required an entire team.

Mr. Mai Dinh Ngoc - Media Soft Group Joint Stock Company

Offering suggestions to small businesses and household businesses in Hai Phong, Mr. Ngoc suggested that this model opens up a noteworthy approach: it's not necessary to increase the number of employees to increase productivity; instead, it can start with reorganizing work methods and applying technology in the right places. From repetitive, time-consuming tasks to sales, communication, and customer service activities, AI can become a "digital assistant," helping one person handle more roles, reducing operating costs, and freeing up resources for higher-value tasks.

This is the spirit of the "new productivity revolution": "AI doesn't replace business owners, but amplifies their capabilities," Mr. Ngoc affirmed.

The Q&A session was lively at the conference.

Following five practical sessions and a lively Q&A session, the Conference on Disseminating Law and Applying Digital Technology in E-commerce, themed "From Policy to Practice," concluded successfully. It contributed to consolidating and enhancing knowledge and practical experience in business operations in Hai Phong, helping students and young entrepreneurs to orient their development in the future. 

The conference not only serves as a forum connecting policymakers, regulatory agencies, businesses, and young people, but also contributes to spreading awareness of the role of e-commerce in promoting business model innovation and expanding development opportunities. Through this, it helps create momentum for stakeholders to proactively apply technology, comply with the law, and enhance competitiveness, thereby promoting e-commerce as a key driver of digital economic growth in Hai Phong.