COVID-19 a once-in-a-century opportunity to boost digital transformation, says Vietnam minister

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng (left) looks at digital technologies on display. Viet Nam News/Asia News Network

HANOI — The COVID-19 pandemic was offering a once-in-a-century opportunity for Việt Nam to boost digital transformation on a national scale, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng said at the ministry’s conference on Monday.

Hùng spoke at a conference reviewing results in the first half of the year and setting orientations for the second half, saying that Vitnam had a significant advantage in digital transformation, given a large number of strong information technology and telecommunications companies.

“It’s time to invest heavily in digital transformation, promoting the development of digital technology companies in Việt Nam for the country to create breakthroughs,” Hùng said.

He urged ICT companies to focus on developing the domestic market which had a population of 100 million, stressing that the domestic market was a ground for companies to go global.

The ICT sector must also contribute to developing an autonomous economy. The pandemic also provided opportunities to invest in healthcare and promote the use of digital technology in the healthcare sector.

Hùng urged firms to apply new management models and new business models based on the application of digital technologies.

Regarding foreign direct investment, Hùng said that Virtnam should focus on attracting investment in high technology, promoting research and development (R&D), urging ICT firms to get ready for not only technology transfer but also cooperation in R&D for core technology and products.

Telecommunications companies must hasten the development of 5G services and ensure digital infrastructure at industrial parks, hi-tech zones and IT zones as a preparation to receive the new wave of investment.

Hùng stressed that new-generation telecommunications infrastructure or digital infrastructure was the most important factor in a digital economy.

Hùng also emphasized the mission to master the network security ecosystem.

Hùng said this year, digital transformation strategies would be developed for ministries and localities.

In addition, ministries and localities must enhance efforts to put all public services online at level four (service payments can be settled online) by 2021 at the latest.

All provinces and cities must have data systems connected. The IT system must have four-layer security this year.

Of note, the ministry targeted that every Vietnamese had smartphones and every household had a high-speed, fibre optic internet connection.

The ministry would also focus on developing four types of digital technology companies in Vietnam: those owning core technology, providing solutions and developing products, operating technologies and start-ups.