The establishment of e-Government, governmental processes and information on the Internet, would create a better life for citizens and would simplify the work of governmental agencies With e-Government in place, administrative management sectors and the government’s public services would be more accessible and user friendly.
According to Shankar Sivaprakasam, strategic programme director for HP Technologies Solutions Group in Southeast Asia, a citizen-centric e-Government focuses on the needs of citizens.
"Citizens would not have to visit lots of websites or make several phone calls to undertake important tasks,... they are offered a single window of contact," he said at the event which was held in HCM City. He added that Government departments should integrate structures, policies, processes and technology infrastructure to provide common services.
He cited several benefits of e-Government, including round-the-clock access to services, direct interaction with the State, and a reduction in work for Government agencies.
Viet Nam currently ranks 10th out of 14 Southeast Asian countries in e-Government readiness, according to the UN’s e-Government Readiness Report released in April.
The rating was based on specific e-Government initiatives, as evidenced by web presence, infrastructure and human resource capacities.
The e-Government process will start with establishing a web presence and creating interaction with citizens and businesses.
On-line government transaction services and the "single window" would come next.
Chong Yoke Sin, chief operating officer for Singapore’s National Computer System Ltd., stressed the importance of citizen education and awareness programmes and the development of a vibrant information industry.
It is expected that by 2010, Viet Nam’s Government will be able to handle most of its administrative services on-line, with a website for every State agency.
Under a plan for setting up the technology, prepared by the Ministry of Post and Telematics, the Internet will be used as a platform for providing the public with information about all State agencies, as well as streamlining cumbersome administrative procedures.
Viet Nam has around 1.54 million Internet subscribers and 5.5 million users.
Of the country’s 64 cities and provinces, 52 have their own websites. Apart from HCM City, Ha Noi, Dong Nai, Da Nang and Bac Ninh, few have two-way interactive communication.
HCM City began its application of IT in administrative management in 1997.
In 2002, the city embarked on a program to computerise State administrative management from 2002-2005, which aimed to set up an IT data centre to cover legal documents, businesses, residents, land and housing, urban planning, State employees, finance, accounting and public assets. This year, the city approved 28 IT projects worth VND450 billion to serve IT application/development and the e-Government programme.
Quelle: Viet Nam News, 20.12.2004
