Gov’t plan calls for greater use of e-commerce

E-commerce will be widely applied throughout the country to increase competitiveness of companies by 2015, according to a master plan issued recently by the Government.

Duong Hoang Minh, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s E-Commerce and IT Department, said that by 2015, all busineses would be using email for all transactions.

Speaking at the Viet Nam E-commerce forum (Ecombiz) yesterday in HCM City, he said that 80 per cent of corporations would have websites regularly updated to advertise their products and services by 2015.

In addition, 70 per cent of large and 30 per cent of small- and medium-sized companies would have e-commerce websites to purchase and sell commodities and services.

Under the master plan, 70 per cent of supermarkets and shopping centres would allow consumers to use electronic payments and would not accept cash.

For public services, the master plan sets a target for providing public services on production and business in line with Viet Nam’s international commitment to non-paper based trade in the areas of tax, customs, export and import, investment and business registration.

Information on State-funded projects and the bidding in Governmental procurement would be made public through e-commerce applications, he said.

Under the plan, businesses would be able to search for information about company operations and activities via a database provided by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Investment and Planning and other agencies.

The costs for such a programme will come from the State budget, business capital, and loans from credit organisations and international sponsors.

In the near future, the E-commerce and Information Technology Department will closely co-ordinate with cities and provincial departments of industry and trade in organising the timely implementation of legal regulations related to e-commerce.

Localities will be encouraged to create a favourable environment for e-commerce with adequate and comprehensive promulgation of legal documents related to e- commerce.

A strong and consistent public awareness campaign and e-commerce training will help improve management of e-commerce in localities.

Websites

Ha Ngoc Son of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade said the rate of internet connection for HCM City businesses had reached 92 per cent, and e-commerce transactions about 71 per cent. Thirty-two per cent of businesses have their own websites.

E-commerce applications are currently being used mainly for trade promotions.

During the 2011-15 period, the city will focus on e-commerce applications among businesses, consumers and State agencies.

Lu Bang, deputy director of Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade, said the city set a target of 65 per cent for companies to apply e-commerce to conduct B2B and business-to-consumer transactions by 2015.

Challenges to implementing the master plan include the lack of human resources for e-commerce, an underdeveloped IT infrastructure, and an unclear legal framework.

Most companies are not aware of the benefits or the conditions to join e-commerce, according to Bang.

He added that few company directors or management officials had basic knowledge of e-commerce and or knew how to set up a system and train workers.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, head of Ministry of Industry and Trade’s E-Commerce and IT Department, said e-commerce was a useful solution to help companies enhance competitiveness. In the near future, the quality of websites will be the major concern, he added. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam E-commerce