The stimulation of electronic governance must be top of the national development agenda through 2020, declared Information and Communication Minister Nguyen Bac Son.

Addressing the Vietnam ICT Summit 2015- a high-level forum on information and communication technology (ICT) - in Hanoi on June 25, Son emphasised his ministry’s continuous efforts to consult and coordinate IT application among State agencies, organisations and enterprises.

The improvement of the national e-governance steering committee and IT management boards at lower levels will be also prioritised, he said, adding that the heads of public agencies and administrations at all levels are responsible for IT advancement inside their organisations and localities.

At the forum, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his delight at the IT sector’s 16-percent growth rate recorded last year, but noted a concerning 19-place drop of the country in the United Nations’ digital government ranking.

He hoped participating experts and managers would identify obstacles and put forth solutions to boost the key sector.

According to the Deputy PM, the Government has issued regulations related to IT outsourcing and application in public services including healthcare, insurance, education, taxation and transport.

The launch of e-governance among State agencies follows an enforced route with clear and specific criteria, he noted.

This year’s Vietnam ICT summit, organised by the Vietnam Software Association (VINASA) and comprising several meetings, is designed to discuss the application of ICT in major sector and social service management. Talks revolve around enhancing health sector capacity; improving public management and services; developing smart cities and transport systems; and training ICT human resources.

The annual summit, first launched in 2011, has made significant contributions to fostering e-governance in the nation’s modernisation.-VNA