Decision No. 246/2005/QD-TTg Approves the Strategy for the Development of Information Technology and Telecommunications in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientations until 2020

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Approve the Strategy for the Development of Information Technology and Telecommunications in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientations until 2020

until 2010 and orientations until 2020

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications at Document No. 2563/BBCVT-VCL dated December 24, 2004 on the "Strategy for the Development of Information Technology and Telecommunications in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientations until 2020",

DECISION:

Article 1. Approve the "Strategy for the Development of Information Technology and Telecommunications in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientations until 2020" with the main contents as follows:

I. VIEWS, OBJECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATIONS

1. Development Orientation

- Information technology and telecommunications are key tools to achieve millennium goals, form an information society, shorten the process of industrialization and modernization of the country. Widespread application of information technology and telecommunications is a strategic factor contributing to economic growth, social development, and increasing labor productivity and efficiency. The application of information technology and telecommunications must be integrated into the process of renewal and closely aligned with socio-economic development goals, and incorporated into political programs, management, economic, cultural, social, scientific and technological activities, and national defense and security.

- The information technology and telecommunications industry is a leading sector that receives priority support and encouragement from the State for development. Developing the information technology and telecommunications industry significantly contributes to economic growth, promotes the development of other sectors, and enhances the country's technological capacity during the process of industrialization and modernization. Developing the information content industry and software industry, strongly promoting the formation and development of an information society, is a key priority that the State pays special attention to.

- Information and telecommunications infrastructure is prioritized for development, ensuring advanced technology, effective management, and exploitation. Developing information and telecommunications infrastructure must precede by one step to create a foundation for the development and application of information technology and telecommunications. Investment in information and telecommunications infrastructure is deep investment, bringing long-term benefits to the entire society.

- Developing human resources in information technology and telecommunications is a critical factor that decisively affects the development and application of information technology and telecommunications. Developing human resources in information technology and telecommunications must ensure quality, synchronization, and rapid structural transformation towards a higher proportion of high-level personnel, enhancing the country's information and telecommunications technology capacity.

2. Development objectives until 2010

- Widespread application of information technology and telecommunications in key sectors of the economy. Forming, building, and developing e-Vietnam with citizen e-services, e-Government, e-Business, and e-commerce to bring Vietnam to a moderate level in ASEAN.

- The information technology and telecommunications industry becomes a leading industry with a growth rate of 20-25% per year, achieving total revenue of about 6-7 billion USD by 2010.

- Information and telecommunications infrastructure covers the entire country, with large bandwidth, high speed and quality, and low cost. By 2010, the national telephone density reaches 32-42 units per 100 people; the Internet subscriber density reaches 8-12 subscribers per 100 people (of which 30% are broadband subscribers), with Internet usage reaching 25-35%; the average personal computer density exceeds 10 units per 100 people.

- Training in key information technology and telecommunications departments reaches advanced levels and quality in ASEAN. Ensuring that the majority of civil servants, teachers, doctors, nurses, university and college students, vocational secondary school students, technical secondary school students, and high school students, 50% of junior high school students, and over 30% of the population can use information technology and telecommunications applications and exploit the Internet.

3. Development orientations until 2015 and vision until 2020

- Widespread application of information technology and telecommunications in all fields, effectively exploiting information and knowledge in all industries. Building and developing e-Vietnam with citizen e-services, e-Government, e-Business, and e-commerce to bring Vietnam to a relatively high level in ASEAN. Forming an information society.

- The information technology and telecommunications industry has a growth rate exceeding 20% per year, achieving total revenue of approximately 15 billion USD.

- Information and telecommunications infrastructure develops strongly to meet the information exchange needs of the entire society. Telephone density exceeds 50 units per 100 people, including fixed-line telephone density exceeding 20 units per 100 people and mobile telephone density exceeding 30 units per 100 people.

- Training in information technology and telecommunications at universities reaches advanced levels and quality in ASEAN. Ensuring that 80% of graduating information technology and telecommunications students from universities have the professional skills and language proficiency to participate in the international labor market.

Vision 2020: With information technology and telecommunications as the core, Vietnam will quickly transform its economic and social structure to become a country with advanced levels in knowledge-based economic development and information society, making significant contributions to the successful implementation of the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country.

II. CONTENT OF THE STRATEGY

1. Develop the application of information technology and telecommunications

a) Build and develop e-citizens

Ensure that over 80% of young people in cities, towns, and urban areas can use information technology and communication applications and utilize the Internet. Gradually introduce information technology and communication into the lives of farmers to narrow the digital gap between rural and urban areas. Citizens can access timely information and knowledge through radio, television, the Internet, and electronic information websites. Develop and popularize an electronic management system to cover over 80% of hospitals nationwide. Popularize computer usage among more than 70% of health workers.

b) Build and develop an Electronic Government

Ensure a smooth and timely command, operation, and information exchange system from the central level to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provinces and centrally-administered cities; over 50% of documents are circulated via the network; most state officials have the opportunity to use email and access information in their work. 100% of government agencies have electronic information websites with comprehensive information on agency activities, laws, policies, regulations, administrative procedures, working processes, investment projects, bidding, and procurement. Citizens and businesses can quickly and easily search for information related to administrative activities. Financial, banking, and customs information systems reach a level equivalent to advanced countries in the region. Information systems on population, civil servants, resources, environment, and statistics have basic information updated regularly and provided frequently. Some registration, declaration, and licensing services are conducted online through information systems of districts and departments under provinces and cities. The development of an electronic government in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City reaches a moderate level in the region. Vigorously apply and develop information technology and communication in national defense and security to serve the cause of protecting the country.

c) Build and develop electronic enterprises

Strongly apply information technology and communication in high-integration economic service sectors such as telecommunications, banking, customs, aviation, tourism, taxation, etc., ensuring the management capacity and service quality of these sectors reach advanced levels in the region. 50-70% of enterprises apply information technology and communication to management, operations, brand promotion, marketing, market expansion, supervision, production process automation, design, product testing, and quality assessment, etc. More than 50% of enterprises in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City conduct statistical reports, tax declarations, registrations, and business licenses online. Over 40% of enterprises declare, register, and obtain customs clearance online.

d) Develop electronic transactions and commerce

Form and promote the development of an electronic transaction and commerce environment. Establish electronic commerce trading platforms, value-added networks, supply chain management systems. Ensure that 25-30% of total transactions in economic sectors are conducted through electronic transaction and commerce systems. The value of electronic transactions and commerce increases tenfold compared to 2002.

2. Develop the information technology and communication industry

Develop the software industry and information content industry in tandem with the expansion and development of communication networks. Maintain an average annual growth rate of the software industry and information content industry at 40%, reaching a total revenue of approximately 1.2 billion USD by 2010. Strive for Vietnam to become a regional center for electronic equipment assembly, computers, and telecommunications, producing certain types of components and accessories, and designing new equipment. The computer hardware industry has an average annual growth rate of 20%, reaching a total revenue of approximately 3 billion USD by 2010. The telecommunications equipment manufacturing industry has an average annual growth rate of 22%, reaching a total revenue of approximately 700 million USD by 2010. The electronics industry (consumer and industrial) has an average annual growth rate of 22%, reaching a total revenue of approximately 2 billion USD by 2010. Personal computers, mobile phones, and software bearing Vietnamese brands capture the maximum domestic market share and export not less than 1 billion USD.

3. Develop information and communication infrastructure

Construct information and communication infrastructure to meet the needs of information exchange for the entire society. Vietnam's telecommunication and Internet infrastructure directly adopts modern technology, develops rapidly, diversifies, provides users with high-quality services, ensures information security, confidentiality, and charges lower or comparable rates to the regional ASEAN+3 average. Create conditions for all economic sectors to participate in providing telecommunication and Internet services. Support new businesses to capture 40-50% of the telecommunication and Internet service market share by 2010.

All ministries, sectors, administrative agencies, provincial, and district governments are connected to broadband Internet and linked to the government-wide network. 100% of communes nationwide have telephones; 100% of commune cultural-post offices and community education centers are connected to the Internet; 100% of districts and many communes across the country are served with broadband services at lower or comparable rates to the regional ASEAN+3 average; 100% of research institutes, universities, colleges, and secondary vocational schools have high-speed Internet access; over 90% of junior high schools and hospitals are connected to the Internet.

4. Develop human resources for information technology and communication

Training in information technology and communication at key universities should reach advanced regional ASEAN levels in terms of knowledge, practical skills, and foreign languages. Seventy percent of graduates in information technology and communication from key universities should have professional expertise and language proficiency to participate in the international labor market. One hundred percent of graduates from all universities, colleges, and vocational schools should possess computer and internet usage skills for work purposes. By 2010, there should be over 100,000 people with college and university degrees in information technology and communication, including approximately 20% reaching regional and international standards. Ensure that all universities, colleges, and high schools have electronic websites. Increase the quality and quantity of information technology and communication lecturers at universities, colleges, and vocational schools to maintain a ratio of less than 15 students per lecturer. Teacher training institutions should provide sufficient numbers of computer teachers for schools nationwide. The majority of civil servants, public officials, teachers at all levels, doctors, nurses, university and college students, vocational school students, technical secondary school students, general secondary school students, 50% of junior high school students, and a portion of the population with relevant needs should be trained in applied information technology and communication knowledge and internet exploitation. Most ministries, sectors, provinces, and cities should have information management staff who are supplemented and trained in information technology and communication management programs at equivalent regional levels.

III. MAJOR SOLUTIONS AND KEY PROGRAMS

1. Major Solutions

a) Enhancing Awareness

Enhance awareness of the role and position of information technology and communication in all national economic sectors, security, and defense, and improve the ability to use information technology and communication through various forms of propaganda and dissemination of basic knowledge about information technology and communication on the Internet and mass media.

Launch a broad revolutionary movement, advancing the whole country into an information society and a knowledge-based economy, turning the entire nation into a large school, encouraging information sharing culture, and forming a lifelong learning society.

b) Enhancing Application and Development Capabilities of Information Technology and Communication

- For society:

Enact state investment policies for information technology and communication applications, policies to attract wide participation from multinational companies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, domestic and foreign companies in developing information technology and communication.

Focus investments on key projects with breakthrough potential and foundational development for e-citizenship, e-government, e-commerce, and e-transactions. Prioritize e-government development initially. Provide material support for some information technology and communication training institutions to match advanced regional countries to ensure teaching and research quality.

Enact specific regulations and standards for mandatory users of information technology and communication such as civil servants, college, and university students. For non-mandatory users, the state should encourage them to apply information technology and communication through supportive policies.

- For domestic information technology and communication enterprises:

Implement tax, financial, investment incentive policies, support businesses producing enterprise management software; special encouragement and support policies for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply information technology and communication, policies using domestic products and services in government information technology and communication application projects; policies encouraging businesses to increase investment in information technology and communication applications.

Support information technology and communication industrial enterprises, implement preferential policies for applying information technology in industry, encourage the creation of information technology and communication products with Vietnamese brands. Prioritize and support new enterprises entering the telecommunications market. Implement policies to encourage businesses to develop information infrastructure in rural, remote, and mountainous areas. Create conditions for telecommunications enterprises to share existing infrastructure, enhancing production and business efficiency across the information technology and communication sector.

c) Strengthening State Management Capacity and Effectiveness in Information Technology and Communication

Improve the state management machinery for information technology and communication at central and local levels to ensure management capacity keeps pace with development. Establish positions for information managers, build and nurture cadres at all levels, and provide reasonable incentives. Quickly establish a management system for information technology and communication applications. Include separate budget items for information technology and communication in the state budget. Develop and unify management and technical standards for information technology and communication. Study and establish compulsory regulations for officials to use information technology and communication tools in their work, rules for information exploitation, updating, and sharing.

d) Mobilizing Capital for Strategy Implementation

Mobilize domestic and foreign capital to implement key programs in phases. Concentrate capital on implementing national priority projects and ministry, sector, and local priority projects. Actively seek ODA funding, especially creating the most favorable conditions to attract FDI for major projects. Strive to allocate 1% of the budget for information technology and communication application and development by 2010, and total investment from various economic components and sources should reach 2% of GDP.

There are special policies aimed at attracting investment capital from all economic sectors for the application and development of information technology and telecommunications. Creating a favorable environment for Vietnam to become an attractive and reliable investment destination for international partners, particularly large information technology and telecommunications corporations. Encouraging all economic sectors, including foreign direct investment forms, especially those with 100% foreign capital, to participate in developing the information technology and telecommunications industry.

d) Developing human resources for information technology and telecommunications

Reviewing training programs on information technology and telecommunications, resolutely eliminating outdated programs. Compiling new training programs on information technology, increasing practical components in information technology and telecommunications courses. Establishing appropriate systems for each type of information technology and telecommunications training institution to achieve the goal of training human resources.

Encouraging universities to teach information technology and telecommunications in English, implementing policies to attract foreign teachers in training. Promoting English-language undergraduate programs for information technology and telecommunications students, following a model where one year is dedicated to learning English and three to four years to specialized studies in English.

Supporting and creating favorable conditions for computer education at all levels, encouraging second-degree university education in information technology and telecommunications. Encouraging organizations and individuals both within and outside the country to organize various types of training and capacity building for information technology and telecommunications human resources. Attracting and creating favorable conditions for international universities to teach information technology and telecommunications in Vietnam. Providing incentives for schools and research institutes using the Internet, encouraging the application of information technology in education.

Selecting excellent students or those who have graduated from university and are working in the field of information technology and telecommunications with promising prospects for development, meeting educational qualifications, to be sent abroad for training to become experts in information technology and telecommunications and information technology and telecommunications management. Enterprises directly cooperate with foreign companies in information technology and telecommunications to develop information technology and telecommunications human resources and train high-level experts in information technology and telecommunications.

e) Developing the research and development system

Enhancing the research and development capabilities of institutions specializing in information technology and telecommunications. Implementing policies to value scientific staff in information technology and telecommunications, providing special incentives for international companies establishing research centers in Vietnam. Promoting research collaboration between information technology and telecommunications enterprises and universities, research institutes, encouraging enterprises to invest in research and development. Implementing scientific and technological research programs on information technology and telecommunications to create national technological potential and capability.

g) Improving the legal environment supporting the development and application of information technology and telecommunications

Urgently building and perfecting regulatory legal documents to create an environment for supporting the application and development of information technology and telecommunications. Establishing mechanisms and policies to ensure fair competition among information technology and telecommunications enterprises across all economic sectors. Promoting healthy competition in the telecommunications and Internet market. Clearly distinguishing business activities from public service activities in the telecommunications sector.

h) Strengthening domestic and international cooperation and linkage

Taking advantage of support, sharing information, knowledge, experience, and technology transfer in research, management, production, business, and training from international organizations, multinational companies, research institutions, consulting centers, experts, particularly overseas Vietnamese. Regularly consolidating and enhancing the close relationship, cooperation, and linkage between the three subjects: state, enterprise, and users, paying attention to small and medium-sized enterprises. Leveraging the role of professional associations in information technology and telecommunications in promoting the application and development of information technology and telecommunications.

i) Developing the information technology and telecommunications market

Implementing market opening for telecommunications and the Internet, actively integrating internationally. Transitioning to a competitive market, creating conditions for all economic sectors to participate in providing telecommunications and Internet services. Implementing support policies for new enterprises to capture 40-50% of the telecommunications and Internet service market share by 2010.

Expanding the information technology and telecommunications market abroad. Developing the information technology and telecommunications labor market (especially software production and information content workers), supporting and creating conditions for exporting software production workers and attracting international information technology and telecommunications experts to Vietnam.

2. Key Programs

The strategy for developing information technology and telecommunications in Vietnam will be implemented through the following five key programs:

a) Program for Building Institutional, Legal, and Policy Environment to Promote the Application and Development of Information Technology and Telecommunications

- National priority projects to enhance information technology and telecommunications management capacity.

+ Building a system of regulatory legal documents and policies to create a supportive environment for the application of information technology and telecommunications, development of information and telecommunications infrastructure, development of information technology and telecommunications human resources, development of the information technology and telecommunications industry, and development of e-commerce;

+ Building a national standard system for information and information technology and telecommunications.

- Other projects

+ Establishing institutional frameworks, management mechanisms, and operational systems for information technology and telecommunications applications;

+ Building premises and cultural environments suitable for an information society and a knowledge-based economy.

b) Program to Promote the Application of Information Technology and Telecommunications, and Develop Vietnam's Digitalization

- National priority projects on building foundations for the development of electronic citizens and businesses.

+ Popularizing computer literacy for twenty million people;

+ Training thirty thousand specialized personnel in information technology and telecommunications;

+ Constructing one million websites serving communities;

+ Producing one million affordable internet-connected devices;

+ Developing exemplary models of information technology and telecommunications applications in enterprises.

- National priority projects on building foundations for the development of an electronic government

+ Standardizing electronic information storage and exchange systems within state agencies;

+ Developing common software and important national databases;

+ Establishing systems to ensure information security, safety, and confidentiality;

+ Developing information technology to lay the groundwork for an electronic government and enhance state management capabilities in information technology and telecommunications;

+ Training and developing leaders and managers in information and network administration;

+ Establishing exemplary models for modernizing and digitizing administrative procedures and basic online public services; models for electronic procurement by government agencies.

- Priority projects at the Ministry, sectoral, and local levels

+ Digitizing the operations of Party organizations;

+ Applying information technology in National Assembly agencies;

+ Digitizing administrative state management;

+ Building financial information systems and applying information technology and telecommunications in financial management activities;

+ Building banking information systems and applying information technology and telecommunications in banking management activities;

+ Building economic and social statistics information systems;

+ Building land, natural resources, and environmental information systems;

+ Building population, labor, war invalids, and social welfare information systems;

+ Building agricultural and rural development information systems;

+ Building industrial product information systems;

+ Building legal and regulatory information systems;

+ Building cultural and social information systems;

+ Building science and technology information systems;

+ Building education, training, vocational education, and employment information systems;

+ Building health care and community health information systems;

+ Building postal, telecommunications, and information technology information systems;

+ Building customs information systems and applying information technology and telecommunications in customs management activities;

+ Building trade and business information systems;

+ Building citizen identification card management systems, moving towards issuing electronic identification cards to all citizens;

+ Building an electronic government in Hanoi;

+ Building an electronic government in Ho Chi Minh City;

+ Building an electronic government in Da Nang;

+ Applying and developing information technology and telecommunications in the People's Public Security;

+ Applying and developing information technology and telecommunications in national defense;

+ Applying and developing open-source software;

- Other projects

+ Building information systems to support aquaculture and coastal area development;

+ Building information systems about the country, people, history, and tourism;

+ Building transportation information systems;

+ Applying information technology and telecommunications in the management, operation, and activities of the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

+ Applying information technology and telecommunications in the management, operation, and activities of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

+ Applying information technology and telecommunications in the management, operation, and activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

+ Applying information technology and telecommunications in the management, operation, and activities of the Ministry of Construction;

+ Enhancing support for small and medium-sized enterprises in applying information technology and telecommunications;

+ Increasing the application of information technology to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese industrial products;

+ Developing and implementing an e-commerce promotion program, participating in the e-ASEAN e-commerce program, preparing for international integration;

+ Popularizing computer literacy, enhancing awareness and understanding of the role of information technology and telecommunications, knowledge-based economy, and information society.

c) Program to Develop Telecommunication Infrastructure and Internet

- National priority projects on building foundations for information access and knowledge capacity development

+ Building a wide-area government network. Broadband Internet connection for all ministries, sectors, administrative agencies, provincial, and district governments;

+ Broadband Internet connection for research institutes, universities, colleges, secondary schools, and hospitals down to the district level. Gradually building high-speed networks linking universities and scientific research institutions nationwide;

+ Developing public post office and cultural center Internet access points and public Internet access points. Bringing Internet to 100% of post office and cultural centers and community education centers, serving the application of information technology and telecommunications in agriculture and rural development.

d) Program to Develop Human Resources in Information Technology and Telecommunications

- Improving the quality of higher education and postgraduate education in information technology and telecommunications;

- Supporting the implementation of joint training programs in information technology and telecommunications with foreign universities;

- Training and upgrading skills in information technology and telecommunications for various specialties;

- Improving the quality of information technology and telecommunications education at vocational and technical schools;

- Training in information technology and telecommunications management and popularizing computer literacy among civil servants and employees.

- Teaching computer science and applying information technology and communication in secondary schools;

- Developing educational and training networks and services on the Internet;

- Ensuring that 100% of high schools use the Internet;

- Connecting the Internet to junior high schools;

d) Information technology and communication industry development program

- Formulating an overall plan for developing the information technology and communication industry in Vietnam;

- Planning concentrated information technology and communication industrial zones;

- Creating markets and brands for Vietnamese information technology and communication products, supporting information technology and communication enterprises to enter international markets;

- Establishing venture funds to attract investment for the development of the information technology and communication industry, especially the software industry and content production;

- Developing the software industry and services, promoting the export of software products, fostering small and medium-sized software enterprises;

- Developing the production and supply of Vietnamese language content, promoting the use of Vietnamese in electronic information pages;

- Developing the production of Vietnamese-branded computers and smart terminal devices to meet domestic needs and for export;

- Improving the quality of electronic products, promoting the export of electronic products, developing auxiliary industries and component manufacturing;

- Enhancing the production capacity of telecommunications equipment, particularly mobile phones, to meet domestic needs and produce exportable products;

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and relevant agencies, to develop and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the project to establish the National Steering Committee on Information Technology and Communication and Information Society, planning the development of information technology and communication in Vietnam, planning the development of the information technology and communication industry in Vietnam, policies and mechanisms to encourage and create conditions for the development of information technology and communication, researching and drafting the strategy for developing the information society in Vietnam; taking the lead, in coordination with ministries, sectors, provincial people's committees under the central government, to develop detailed contents, organize and implement key programs to build an institutional, legal, policy environment to promote the application and development of information technology and communication, programs to accelerate the application of information technology and communication, develop e-Vietnam, programs to develop telecommunication infrastructure and the Internet, programs to develop the information technology and communication industry; formulating implementation plans for the period from 2005 to 2010 and annually in accordance with this Strategy; summarizing the implementation situation of the Strategy annually and concluding the implementation situation at the end year;

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, to balance and integrate resources in the five-year and annual state plans for key programs, national priority projects, sectoral and local priority projects; formulating solutions to implement policies to mobilize domestic and foreign capital for the application and development of information technology and communication;

3. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead in formulating mechanisms and policies to ensure preferential allocation and sufficient funding for key programs, national priority projects, sectoral and local priority projects;

4. The Ministry of Trade shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and related ministries, to formulate and implement projects to create markets and brands for Vietnamese information technology and communication products, supporting information technology and communication enterprises to enter international markets;

5. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead in organizing the implementation, inspecting, and evaluating the results of the human resource development program for information technology and communication;

6. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and related ministries, to formulate mechanisms and policies to promote research and deployment of information technology and communication;

7. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, provincial people's committees under the central government shall base themselves on this Strategy to formulate comprehensive plans for the period from 2005 to 2010 and annual plans on the application and development of information technology and communication. Implement activities on the application and development of information technology and communication within the regular work plans of their units. Ensure investment and implement investment projects decided upon by competent authorities according to schedule. Projects currently underway need to be adjusted to align with the spirit and content of this Strategy.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government are responsible for implementing this Decision.