It is now the time for the economic, cultural and social activities of people, agencies, organizations and enterprises to be integrated into the digital environment.

In 2018, before the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked provincial and municipal authorities to temporarily stop the merger of departments and divisions, the Bac Lieu Information and Communications Department had merged with the Culture, Sport and Tourism Department.

However, in March 2023, four years after the merger, the Bac Lieu Information and Communications Department was re-established. This delay occurred because the merger, the IT application, digital transformation and digitization in Bac Lieu went slowly, while the task of maintaining management in the IT sector was not done well.

This shows the important role of the information and communications sector. The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) was assigned by the government and Prime Minister to act as the agency coordinating and leading national digital transformation.

Vo Duc Trong, Deputy Chair of Tay Ninh People’s Committee, said previously the role of the information and communications department was weak but in recent years has improved.

“The department has advised provincial authorities to establish steering committee on digital transformation. The department has accelerated the digital transformation process for the entire political system, branches and entire society.

“Tay Ninh province has set a digital transformation strategy, considering it a driving force for local socio-economic growth,” Trong said.

Director of the HCM City Information and Communications Department Lam Dinh Thang said the department will preside over the organization of many programs, plans and policies important to the development of the city. 

The department is also undertaking the organization of many platforms and services for common use to serve the digital authorities of HCM City; and is acting as the leader and supporter in digital transformation of agencies in districts and Thu Duc City.

Meanwhile, director of the Nam Dinh Information and Communications Department Vu Trong Que said the department has shifted from organizing the building of electronic authorities to directing, leading and promoting digital transformation. It has become an agency which has its voice in all activities and decisions of the city.

Important breakthrough

At the national level, the great efforts by MIC have been praised by the government, National Assembly and veteran officers of the sector.

Closing the session on July 12 reviewing the 6-month plan for national digital transformation strategy and Plan 06, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commented that the actions of digital transformation continued, with spillover to all political levels, branches and localities. The work of improving institutions, mechanisms and policies for national digital transformation has been implemented.

At the working session with MIC on July 14, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang commented that MIC has done a lot of work in recent years. This can be seen in the development indicators in different fields, which are higher than the average level in the world.

Particularly, more than ever, the society and public are enthusiastic about digital technology. They are eager for changes created by digital technology.

National Asembly Chair Vuong Dinh Hue in late March 2023 said MIC is one of the most dynamic ministries in both the building of the institutional regime and policies, promoting the role of state management, and in accelerating the development of the three pillars of national digital transformation.

MIC proposed to build programs and strategies orienting the development of the sector in the next 10 years and subsequent years. These include the National Digital Transformation Program approved by the Prime Minister in June 2020, and the national strategies on developing e-government, digital government, digital economy, digital society, and ensuring cybersecurity.

MIC also paid attention to developing regimes to serve the national digital transformation. In the 2021-2026, two laws were built and approved, namely the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Radio Frequency and Law on Electronic Transactions. The Law on Telecommunications is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in October 2023.

Ngoc Minh - Thai Khang - Le My