IT infrastructure targeted

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested the Ministry of Information and Communications to complete submissions for a Government strategy to upgrade the country’s information technology (IT) infrastructure by 2020 by this Thursday.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies to draft further submissions to the Prime Minister before June 25.

If successful, the project, designed by the Ministry of Information and Communications, will transform Viet Nam into a ‘strong IT nation’ by 2015, lift the country’s information technology rank on the list of the International Telecommunication Union to 70th or higher, and increase total revenue of the IT sector as a percentage of GDP from between 17 to 20 per cent.

Longer term, the strategy aims to lift Viet Nam to a ranking of 60th or higher in the Union’s list and increase the information communication sector’s contribution to GDP to between 20 and 23 per cent.

In response to the strategy, the ministry has outlined six phases of implementation:

To continue developing and improving telecommunications infrastructure; to extend access to telephones, audio-visual equipment and computer systems nationwide; to develop IT applications in State-run agencies; to develop IT solutions that serve the daily needs of the people: to develop an IT-skills base in the labour market: and to support international IT cooperation.

Highlighting the importance of IT in the public sector, Dung emphasised in April: “In this era, the development of IT application for the operation of State-run agencies is a matter of urgency for our country.”

IT applications will enable the smooth and uniform operation of State agencies. This is essential to maintain a harmonious relationship between the people, the business community and state agencies. It is also a necessary component of reforming the Government and State agencies to ensure democracy and transparency, improve effectiveness, and increase efficiency of public administration. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam IT, Vietnam IT infrastructure