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HP has recently launched a program to provide pioneering IT support for the Vietnamese Government’s ‘Vietnam IT Education’ Program
As technology is increasingly woven into our daily lives - from running a business to keeping in touch with family and friends – ensuring access to computing and IT solutions becomes an even greater priority.
Unfortunately, in many developing communities around the world, getting access to the latest IT equipment isn’t always easy. Ensuring that all communities have access to fundamental communication infrastructure is critical to bridging the digital divide.
HP has been a committed crusader to addressing the digital divide for many years, developing a range of programs and initiatives aimed at expanding access to information and communication, for communities that have limited access to modern technology.
Backing for Government’s digital divide initiative
Reinforcing this commitment, HP has recently launched a program to provide pioneering IT support for the Vietnamese Government’s ‘Vietnam IT Education’ Program, in partnership with Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) , Saigon Co-op and HP Partner Beenext Co.
As part of the initiative, titled the HCMC Youth League program, HP will provide more than 40,000 PCs and printers at a specially discounted low cost to be distributed to Vietnamese youth, initially in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), through the Co-op Mart supermarket chain.
Specifically, the project will provide low cost packages for Compaq Presarios and HP DeskJet printers for as low as $419 USD, payable in instalments of 30 months, without collateral.
The program focuses on providing a sustainable solution that will provide Vietnamese people with increased access to the social and economic opportunities of the information age.
The Vietnam Government’s ‘Vietnam IT education’ program was launched in December 2003, to eradicate IT literacy among the youth population. The program is part of the government’s five-year plan targeted to reach the IT needs of the national youth population in Vietnam. The program will see one million IT students from city areas throughout Vietnam assigned to rural areas to provide IT education to 20 million young people throughout the country.
Improving IT access in Ho Chi Minh City
Following on from this important national initiative, the Government of Ho Chi Minh City has worked closely with HP and their partners on the development of this pilot, to lead the country in making technology more accessible for Vietnamese young people, through low cost IT solutions. Eventually HP and SHTP hope to expand the program to penetrate rural provinces throughout Vietnam.
'HP has been always committed to emerging countries, as well as bridging the digital divide around the world, with the launch of the HCMC Youth League program, we’re setting another example and milestone of this powerful program to enable Vietnam’s people access to high quality IT technology at an affordable price,” said Mr Wolfgang Zenger, Vice President – HP Global Procurement Services.
“This will ultimately allow a broad set of the Vietnamese people to participate in this nationwide IT education initiative,” he said.
HP’s work to help bridge the digital divide in Vietnam doesn’t stop there, with the company supporting SHTP in their alliance with the Youth League in establishing a pilot IT Education Centre in District 12 of Ho Chi Minh City. As part of the arrangement HP has donated a range of PCs and DeskJet printers, which will play an important role in educating Vietnamese youth at this new centre.
Committed to growing the local industry
HP has a long-standing commitment to the ongoing development of IT in Vietnam. The company formed a partnership with SHTP in 2003, to work together to help grow the local technology industry.
As a result of this relationship, the industry has grown significantly, to a point where today ‘foreign-branded quality PC solutions’ are manufactured in Vietnam, creating valuable jobs and strong potential for the local industry’s growth, into the future.
As testament to this, many of the PCs being provided for the HCMC Youth League program will have been manufactured in Vietnam, providing double-edged value for the broader Vietnamese community. Not only does the program improve the community’s access to computing solutions, but it also contributes to the ongoing development of Vietnam’s IT industry.
With these sustainable projects, HP is providing a valuable demonstration of the inherent value that the private sector can deliver in working with individual communities to help bridge the digital divide.
Indeed for the company that was founded on ‘inventing for the common good’, HP is once again proving a great example.
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