Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung speaks at the AICTA launching ceremony (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Information and Communications hosted a ceremony in Hanoi on April 21 to announce the ASEAN ICT Awards 2017 (AICTA).

The AICTA, an initiative approved at the ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers’ Meeting, aims to seek and honour creative ICT products and solutions that can be applied in reality, helping promote technological application and enhance trade relations among ASEAN countries.

It features six award categories, namely public sector, private sector, corporate social responsibility, digital content, startup company, and research and development.

Each of the ASEAN member nations can nominate three products for each category. Each organisation or business can nominate many products for different categories.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung said the stronger participation in the AICTA is necessary to promote Vietnam’s ICT products in the region and the world, thus helping to expand the market for the country’s software products and services.

To submit entries, organisations and businesses must compile applications in line with the organisers’ given sample and post a video (about 5-7 minutes) introducing their products on YouTube. All dossiers and materials relating to the products must be made in English and sent to the domestic organising board by July 31.

The final round and award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Cambodia in November.

Vietnam won one gold and one bronze prizes at the ASEAN ICT Awards 2016.-VNA