Vietnam still slow to offer public services online: CIEM

Hanoi (VNA) – The number of Vietnamese public administrative services that have been made available online is still low, even after five years of implementing Resolution No.19 on the improvement of the business climate, said Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) Nguyen Dinh Cung.

At the workshop on “Five years of Resolution No.19 Implementation and Introducing Resolution No.02 on Enabling Business Environment and Enhancing National Competitiveness” held in Hanoi on January 22, CIEM said that the national public services portal has yet to be fully operational, making it hard for people, businesses, and management units to perform administrative formalities.

Only 6.98 percent of public services have been put online so far, it added.

Vietnam seems rather slow-moving in the process of going cashless as well, with the rate of card payments accounting for a modest 11.49 percent. Ninety percent of the payments were made with cash, and nearly 85 percent of transactions at ATMs are for cash withdrawals, according to CIEM.

Areas that need close attention in 2019 include promoting e-payments; providing public services in the level-4 category which allow local residents and enterprises to submit required forms, handle documents and payments, as well as receive results using only a computer connected to the Internet; and supporting startups and innovation.

CIEM suggested that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) continue amendments to non-cash payment regulations, and study compulsory cashless payments for electricity and water bills, and large-value cash transactions, among others.

The Ministry of Public Security should focus on completing the citizen database and use non-cash payments for administrative fines.

The Government Office is proposed to operate on the national public services portal before September 2019.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Social Security have requested to develop non-cash payments when giving allowances to policy beneficiaries.

Regarding the operation of local businesses after implementing Resolution No.19, Nguyen Minh Thao, Director of the CIEM’s Department of Business Environment and Competitive Capacity, said 43 percent of the firms reported positive changes in their export activities, while improvements were also seen in business conditions.

CIEM director Nguyen Dinh Cung said “In a bid to better businesses’ operation, we need stronger amelioration in business climate, which help reduce input costs, opportunity costs and non-official costs for the firms”.

“Above all, it is necessary to cut business conditions”, he added.-VNA