Taking people and businesses as the centre of digital transformation

Along with the strong development of science-technology and innovation, digital transformation is one of the three pillars of rapid and sustainable development, contributing to creating breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness.
Leaders of Bac Ninh Province and Samsung Vietnam surveyed the construction of an information factory at Manutronics Vietnam Joint Stock Company. (Photo: TRUONG SON)
Leaders of Bac Ninh Province and Samsung Vietnam surveyed the construction of an information factory at Manutronics Vietnam Joint Stock Company. (Photo: TRUONG SON)

In Bac Ninh Province, with a thorough perspective of using people and businesses as the centre, while considering data as a new resource and the platform as a breakthrough solution, digital transformation has brought about remarkable results over the past years.

The 20th Bac Ninh Provincial Party Congress determined “the promotion of the application of information technology and digital transformation, in management and administration activities and continuing to build e-government and smart cities to ensure practicality and efficiency”. In particular, the Provincial Party Executive Committee issued thematic Resolution No. 52-NQ/TU, on Digital Transformation in Bac Ninh Province until 2025, with an orientation to 2030, as well as completing the Provincial Digital Transformation Project for the 2024-2030 period.

Leading the country in the digital economy

For many years the determination of the provincial leaders, the entire political system, the business community and the people, has always made Bac Ninh Province among the leading localities in terms of the provincial digital transformation index (DTI), ranking third in 2020, 4th in 2021, and 7th in 2022.

Notably, at the first National Forum for Digital Economy and Digital Society held on September 19, the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society under the Ministry of Information and Communications introduced some results of the Vietnam Digital Economy Annual Report 2022. Accordingly, the digital economy proportion of Bac Ninh’s GRDP was 56.83%, ranking first in the country.

As a locality that attracts large FDI investments with many high-tech corporations and enterprises, Bac Ninh has been actively contributing to the overall development of the digital economy of the country. Of which, the province's electronic, computer and optical product manufacturing industry alone accounted for 50.73% in 2022.

As a locality that attracts large FDI investments with many high-tech corporations and enterprises, Bac Ninh has been actively contributing to the overall development of the digital economy of the country. Of which, the province's electronic, computer and optical product manufacturing industry alone accounted for 50.73% in 2022.

According to the report on the Readiness Index for information technology development and application (Vietnam ICT Index 2022) announced on September 21, 2023, Bac Ninh Province ranked 10th in the provincial ICT Index (which ranked second in terms of the technical infrastructure index and 10th in the information technology industry index).

Leaders of Bac Ninh Province and delegates press a button to launch the remote digital signing function and issue electronic receipts on the information system for handling provincial administrative procedures.

Leaders of Bac Ninh Province and delegates press a button to launch the remote digital signing function and issue electronic receipts on the information system for handling provincial administrative procedures.

The Provincial Digital Transformation Index (DTI) and the Vietnam ICT Index mentioned above are two official indicators of the development of digital government, digital economy, and digital society at the provincial level and the level of readiness to apply and develop information technology and communications. In addition, they connect and support the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) and Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX), thereby making an important contribution to shaping the construction and development of e-government and smart cities in the current period, with an orientation to 2025.

People and businesses are the top priority

However, the above results are just the beginning. The digital transformation process of Bac Ninh Province is facing problems such as the incompletion of the system of mechanisms, policies, standards and regulations on information technology and digital transformation, and the concept of digital transformation has not been specifically legislated. The rate of applications processed online in many agencies, units and localities is still low and does not meet assigned targets, especially at district and commune levels. The qualifications of officials, civil servants, and public employees assigned to be in charge of implementing information technology applications, digital transformation, and information security, are still limited.

People are instructed to use online public services at Bac Ninh Provincial Public Administration Centre.

People are instructed to use online public services at Bac Ninh Provincial Public Administration Centre.

In the near future, to improve the effectiveness of digital transformation in Bac Ninh Province, it is crucial to change awareness associated with the responsibilities of heads of agencies, units and localities. The involvement of the entire political system, synchronous action at all levels and the participation of the whole people are also factors that ensure the success of digital transformation.

During the implementation process, people and businesses are put into the central position to enjoy public services and social amenities more conveniently, faster, and more effectively. They will create resources for development. Prioritising the development of digital platforms and digital infrastructure is a breakthrough solution to promote faster digital transformation, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

During the implementation process, people and businesses are put into the central position to enjoy public services and social amenities more conveniently, faster, and more effectively. They will create resources for development. Prioritising the development of digital platforms and digital infrastructure is a breakthrough solution to promote faster digital transformation, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

Specifically, for digital government activities, virtual assistant platforms should be deployed to serve people, businesses and state agencies. Artificial intelligence (AI) should be applied to analyse, process and synthesise data. Digital economic activities need policy mechanisms to attract investment, support the establishment of digital technology businesses, and support small and medium-sized enterprises to apply digital platforms in production and business activities. Digital society activities focus on providing free digital signatures or personal electronic signatures so that people can perform online public services. The training of basic digital skills for people of working age should be boosted via the MOOCs platform of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

In addition, priority will be given to digital transformation in areas that have a social impact and are directly related to people, including healthcare, education, finance and banking, agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, natural resources and environment, and industrial production.

Digital transformation is an inevitable and objective trend that is happening very strongly, widely and daily. If it is implemented effectively, digital transformation will contribute to promoting the strength of the entire people, internal and external resources, and the innovation of the growth model, towards gradually realising the goal of developing Bac Ninh into a city with modern industry and high technology by 2030.