Le Manh Ha, deputy head of the Government Office said: "e-governance must be established smoothly at all levels of authorities and ministries. It should not be patchy like it is today". — Photo pcworld.com.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Government would like to increase the use of information technology in every aspect, especially public administration, delegates heard at a symposium on e-governance in HCM City yesterday.

Le Manh Ha, deputy head of the Government Office said: "e-governance must be established smoothly at all levels of authorities and ministries. It should not be patchy like it is today.

"e-government should serve citizens and enterprises better as well as improve the management capability of government authorities."

Vo Thi Trung Trinh, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Information and Telecommunications, reported about the city's e-government programme.

"The city has connected the administration, districts, departments, and corporations to one system for information and sends meeting invitations through email, smart phones and SMS besides holding secure online meetings," she said.

She said all 24 districts and 72 per cent of departments have deployed the same six software and all districts and 78 per cents of departments have set up a management model using 25 software programmes for administration files.

"Around 500,000 electronic documents were sent from 177 offices as of the end of June."

During 2016-20, the city will set up an e-office for management and operations and online public services for the public and enterprises and integrate, link and use management databases in various sectors.

"In e-government, it is far more about people and politics than IT application," Nguyen Quang Trung of the HCM City Open University said.

He said there are three essential elements in the success of e-governance: government management capabilities, information and communication technology infrastructure and human resources, and local conditions.

Government capability includes leadership, funding for project deployment, e-government development strategy, capabilities of project managers and legal framework, he listed.

"When top leaders of any localities are ready for e-government, it is time to start the project."

"Local authorities should pay attention to IT workers who often get low salaries and do not get recognised for their contribution and always get attractive offers from the private sector."

For infrastructure, computer, mobile devices and the internet are popular, but a lack of familiarity with computers is the most serious problem.

"Age, ability to use computers, internet availability and locations will affect the success of e-governance.

"e-government projects should get the highest priority with respect to focus, funds and human resources and should take advantage of international support."

Le Doan Hop, a former information and telecom minister, underlined the need for e-governance.

"All public requirements can be fulfilled by the Government without meeting face-to-face, and it would prevent corruption."

Though it has been in the works for a long time, in Viet Nam e-governance remains in a fledgling stage compared with other countries.

"The country's e-governance system should link the central government with communes, businesses and people."

International models such as those used in Israel and Singapore should be used in Viet Nam.

According to the 2014 United Nations E-Government Survey, Viet Nam ranked 99th out of 193 countries in the E-Government Development Index, and 26th out 47 in Asia to rank ahead of Malaysia and Thailand.

The survey is based on three components: online services, telecom infrastructure, and human resources.

In the Networked Readiness Index, the World Economic Forum ranked Viet Nam 85th out of 143 nations in April 2015, one place lower than last year.

The conference was organised by the city Department of Information and Communications and the International Data Group. — VNS