He answered questions such as: What should the ministry do to develop information and communications into something that contributes largely to the country’s GDP, and to the formation and development of an intellectual economy?
Hop also talked about raising the quality and development of press and publishing, and about modernising organisations and infrastructure of these agencies.
The minister said that his five deputy ministers had recently organised five online Q&A sessions on topics related to the ministry’s State management aspects such as posts, telecommunications, information technology (IT), press and publishing.
He said that from now to 2010, the ministry had identified its primary aims and goals as follows:
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– First, to build and complete a system of legal documents to boost the development of the information and communication sector while the country integrates into the world.
– Second, build and complete key programmes, plans and projects such as the National Programme on the Application and Development of Information Technology and Communications.
– Third, complete plans to renew and rearrange State-owned enterprises, to raise their capabilities to compete in and integrate into the world.
– Fourth, help localities solve difficulties, and help local departments of information and communications to consolidate their organisations.
– Fifth, actively integrate into the world following the Party and State’s policies and orientations.
Asked to speak briefly about the country’s first satellite, Vinasat 1, he said that it was being used for security and national defence, and would greatly benefit the public.
On internet management to prevent social evils from impacting adolescents, the minister said that his ministry had worked with the Ministry of Culture and Information to issue a Joint Circular on the Management of Online Games, asking game suppliers to limit gamers, especially children, from playing too much and spending too much time in internet stores.
Many people also asked Hop why the country’s electronics industry had remained weak compared to other countries in the region.
Hop said the ministry had worked out many mechanisms and solutions to develop IT, including the electronics industry.
"The ministry will propose to the Government some projects to develop IT zones and some priority mechanisms to attract foreign enterprises. The ministry will propose to the Government a Decree on Investment in IT," he said.
He said that the ministry had organised many conferences and seminars to study the difficulties that hardware and software companies faced so that it can improve legal frameworks in the area.
He said he believed that in the near future, IT in Viet Nam, including the electronics industry, would develop rapidly.
He admitted that the development of e-Government was still too slow compared to the demands of socio-economic development and administrative reform.
He said the ministry had proposed that the Government approve Decree No 64 on applying IT in State-owned offices, which would also identify the responsibilities of ministries, sectors and localities in applying IT for 2008.
Truong Quoc Phong from Quy Nhon City, in the central province of Binh Dinh, asked the minister why the application of IT in State management activities still faced roadblocks.
The minister answered by pointing out the reasons leading to the situation.
First, awareness on IT’s role and applying it to activities of State offices was still very limited.
Second, investments in the application of IT were not adequate.
Third, there were shortcomings in the regulations that managed investments in the application of IT.
And last, a shortage of human resources was still a problem in the application of information technology.
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Quelle/Source: Viet Nam News, 07.08.2008
