The ceremony, co-organised by the Government Office and the Ministry of Information and Communications, was attended by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, officials from provinces and cities, and General Director of Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Nguyen The Manh – head of the VSS’s Steering Committee for Digital Transformation.

The country aims to be a pioneer in applying new technologies and models; to fundamentally and comprehensively innovate the Government's management and administration methods; and to develop a safe, humane, inclusive, and widespread digital environment, said Chinh.

PM Chinh, chairman of the National Committee for Digital Transformation, also stated that the Government of Vietnam is determined to achieve the dual goal of constructing a digital government, digital economy, and digital society, as well as nurturing Vietnamese digital technology enterprises with global competitiveness to realise the aspiration of a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers his speech at the ceremony on October 10 in Ha Noi. Photo VGP Nhat Bac

He emphasised that digital transformation must be comprehensive, inclusive, and interconnected, involving the participation of the entire political system, all the people, and the business community, and should bring practical benefits to the country, its people, and businesses.

Businesses, he noted, play a decisive role in ensuring success in national digital transformation.

"Digital transformation is the trend and movement of the times," the Prime Minister observed.

It's an objective necessity and strategic choice to build and develop the country in a comprehensive, modern, swift, and sustainable manner, he remarked.

“Digital transformation is the mission of all the people, the entire society, and the full political system, contributing to building an independent, strong, and prosperous Vietnam,” he added.

Digital transformation should be undertaken with the mindset that “Nothing is impossible and determination will make it happen”, he advised.

National Digital Data Year

A report presented at the ceremony highlighted that 2023 had been chosen as the Year of National Digital Data, with the understanding that digital data is a national resource and the foundation of development. Consequently, digital data has become a crucial asset for socio-economic progress.

Digital data activities had achieved many positive results in data connection and sharing; data exploitation to serve people and businesses; as well as developing digital data infrastructure.

The national data sharing and integration platform had been operated effectively with 1.6 million daily transactions.

The national population database received nearly 1.2 billion requests to look up and verify information so far. The National Insurance Database had verified information of over 91 million people with the National Population Database. The Electronic Civil Status Database had received over 45 million birth registration data.

The national database on cadres, civil servants and public employees had been connected with all ministries, sectors and localities, synchronised over 2.1 million data of cadres, civil servants and public employees, reaching 95 per cent.

Along with that, the Government and Prime Minister's information system connected data with 80 ministries, sectors, localities, and State-owned corporations and shared testing data every day and month from the ministries and sectors to 15 localities in order to serve the direction and administration work.

Vietnam's leading digital technology enterprises such as VNPT, FPT and Viettel had pioneered in deploying national and specialised databases, building digital platforms for small and medium enterprises, contributing to promoting Vietnam's digital economic growth over the past time.

 Participants at the ceremony on October 10 in Ha Noi. Photo VGP Nhat Bac

Solutions

To achieve the targets, PM Chinh told the ministries, sectors and localities to focus on perfecting mechanisms and policies for digital infrastructure, digital platforms and digital human resources in order to promote stable and sustainable development of digital data.

The ministries, sectors and localities needed to join hands to remove bottlenecks in implementing the project on developing and applying the population data and electronic identification and authentication to serve national digital transformation (called the Project 06).

The ministries, sectors and localities had to determine that it was the decisive factor for the success of national digital transformation in the coming time, bringing practical benefits for the people and businesses, he said.

He said that it required a methodical strategy, focused implementation, and changes in management and operation methods to effectively implement the national digital transformation.

“The Government's throughout perspective is to take people and businesses as the centre, the goals, and the driving forces and resources of the digital transformation,” he said.

The digital transformation must let people and businesses benefit from public services and social utilities in a way of more convenient, faster, and more effective, he said.

"Providing online public services must place people and businesses at the centre, create convenience, and reduce compliance costs," said the PM.

He outlined four views on digital transformation. These views included a strategic vision with innovation in thinking, perception, and action to align with practical conditions; building upon and further promoting the results achieved in the past; overcoming barriers, difficulties, and challenges to forge new breakthroughs; and vigorously applying science and technology, fostering innovation, and motivating in the spirit of catching up, moving forward, and making concerted efforts in constructing a digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

"National digital transformation must be implemented comprehensively, but priority should be given to quality over quantity," he said.

Importantly, emphasis should be placed on developing digital data, online public services, digital platforms, while ensuring network security and information safety, PM Chinh added.

"The interests of the State, people, and businesses must be harmonised so that people and businesses understand, support, and actively participate in the digital transformation," he remarked.

The Government leader stated that businesses should be assisted in actively transitioning their production and business activities to the digital environment, ensuring a balance of interests between the State and businesses.

He urged Vietnamese digital technology enterprises to concentrate on research and development of digital technology solutions to create sustainable value in data creation and exploitation; they should also intensify the promotion of international cooperation, seek out and explore modern models, technologies, and solutions to apply them aptly in Vietnam./.