With 26 e-government projects now underway, HCM City is leading the nation’s race to implement information technology in administrative procedures.
Under the four-year e-government programme initiated in 2002, information networks belonging to the Government Office, HCM City People’s Council and HCM City People’s Committee are now electronically connected to all grassroots administrative offices in the city. The city is aiming to have 100 per cent of district leaders using PCs in their management work by the end of this year.
The authorities have also pledged to spend more money to speed up implementation of the programme, and as a result administrative offices in the city expect to be electronically equipped within the year.
In addition, officials have launched a city web network where businesses and residents can access a wide source of information relating to new services, legal changes or the development of different economic sectors.
So far, 22 municipal departments, 2 corporations and 2 districts have shared information on the network. It receives an average of 9 million hits a month.
Through the web page, the HCM City Department of Planning and Investment provides an e-licensing service for business registration, and the District 1 People’s Committee is offering family-business registration licences.
According to an official from the e-government programme, the number of administrative offices using IT has increased recently, and has made it easier for both residents and public servants to deal with the vast amounts of paperwork.
"When the district started the telephone service that allows people to register the formation of a business, or seek permit for a construction project, or get a land ownership certificate, I was among the first people using it and I found it really convenient," said a resident from Binh Thanh district.
A recent survey carried out in Binh Thanh found that the telephone service helped grant construction licenses in 5 to 7 fewer days than previously.
An administrative officer at District 3 said it used to take her at least 5 days to properly deal with every request, but with IT she can now complete simple procedures in 15 minutes.
"And a resident seeking the service can have the papers they need in 2 days," she added.
Quelle: Viet Nam News, 03.05.2005
