Customs officers operate the Vietnam Automated Cargo And Port Consolidated System at the Sai Gon Port in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hai

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries, agencies and localities to accelerate the application of information technology in State management, especially in the fields of health, education, tax and customs.

Presiding over the first plenary meeting of the National Committee on IT yesterday, Dung, who is Chairman of the committee, highlighted the importance of IT application to the country's socio-economic development.

He directed ministries and agencies to further develop the IT sector with a focus on human resources, infrastructure and application, creating a momentum for national socio-economic growth and improving the economy's competitive edge.

Priority will be given to building an e-Government system, setting up a national database dedicated to State management, and providing online public services.

Participants recommended some measures to boost the application of IT in the operation of State-run agencies and ease difficulties in establishing and managing the data system,besides solutions for data and internet security.

They suggested that State agencies outsource IT application services so that they do not have to develop all kinds of database on their own.

Dung agreed with the suggestion, saying that it would help reduce budgetary expenses, create a market and encourage further development of the IT sector. He noted, however, that this should be done in accordance with State procedures without affecting information security. — VNS