Specific Numbers in the Goals of the Information and Communications Industry in the Coming Period

Covering over 60% of households, 100% of communes and wards; 100% of villages covered by mobile or Internet; over 90% of mobile phone users using smartphones; over 95% of families using at least 01 smart device. Developing high-speed Internet, secure digital infrastructure, meeting the needs of connection and big data processing.

Direct telecommunications businesses to deploy plans to ensure communication before, during and after major national events.

Research and propose pilot mechanisms to promote the development of new services, expand new spaces for telecommunications businesses: deploy mobile money and new digital infrastructures such as electronic identification, cloud, AI, etc.

Issue the Program to promote and support IPv6 conversion for state agencies (IPv6 For Gov) for the period 2021-2025 to enhance the application of IPv6 on state agency networks and services. Expand domestic Internet connectivity through direct peer-to-peer connections, connecting with Internet exchange points (IXP) to the national Internet exchange point VNIX.

Continue to implement measures to thoroughly handle telecommunications waste (junk SIMs, junk calls, fake calls), protect consumer rights with the aim of developing a healthy and sustainable market.

Summary of the implementation of the Law on Telecommunications; Law on Frequency; implementation of the Decree on collection of fees for granting the right to use radio frequencies, auction, licensing, and transfer of the right to use radio frequencies for auctioned frequency bands.

Field of Information Technology Application

Continue to focus on improving national rankings on e-Government and digital government, and soon complete the development of the e-Government development strategy towards digital government.

Research and develop policies on open data; guide state agencies to develop data sharing solutions; develop integrated platforms

Integrate, connect, and share national data for joint exploitation and use; facilitate data commercialization.

Successfully complete the objectives set out in Resolution No. 17/NQ-CP dated March 7, 2019 of the Government on a number of key tasks and solutions for e-Government development in the 2019-2020 period, with a vision to 2025, and the Prime Minister's instructions. Focus on implementing: Providing online public services at levels 3 and 4, striving to apply 100% to practical public services for the people; applying digital technology to make processes and procedures transparent; mobilizing the participation and contribution of businesses and people in government building; connecting and sharing shared databases to serve state management.

Support the formation of at least 3 smart cities, gradually moving towards forming a number of smart urban chains in 3 key economic regions (North, Central, South) and deploying 5G coverage in these cities.

Perfecting the legal environment for digital government, specifically: Researching and amending the Law on Electronic Transactions; Researching and amending or promulgating a Decree replacing Decree No. 43/2011/ND-CP of the Government regulating the provision of information and online public services on the websites or portals of state agencies; Developing a Prime Minister's Decision approving: Project on developing Vietnam's digital economy to 2025, with a vision to 2030; Project on raising awareness, training and developing human resources for digital transformation to 2025, with a vision to 2030; Developing a Prime Minister's Decision approving the National Data Strategy for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030.

In 2021, ministries, branches and localities need to complete the issuance of the Digital Transformation Program for their sectors, fields and localities according to Decision No. 749/QD-TTg dated June 3, 2020 approving the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030. 100% of communes have at least 01 digital service (health, education, e-commerce, ...) serving directly.

receive people. The Ministry of Information and Communications must be the leading ministry in digital transformation in all areas of the Ministry; continue to preside over the organization of launching Make in Vietnam Digital Platforms to serve national digital transformation.

Continue to deploy and replicate the model of pilot ministries, pilot provinces, and pilot communes on digital transformation; localities prioritize allocating funding from 1-2% of the budget expenditure ratio at all levels (central budget and local budget) for the construction and development of e-Government. Implement the goals set out in the Digital Government Development Strategy for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030, after being signed and promulgated by the Prime Minister.

Accelerate and comprehensively implement the digital transformation support program for Vietnamese enterprises, focusing on small and medium enterprises.

ICT Industry Sector

The goal is to promote Made in Vietnam technology products. Vietnam must become a technology country, master technology and develop products, not only for the domestic market but also the international market. Develop Vietnamese digital technology enterprises. Apply digital technology to all aspects of economic - cultural - social life.

Focus resources on research and development of IT products and services, telecommunications electronics, including: 5G network equipment, 5G terminals, broadband network equipment, smartphones, IoT devices, smart cameras, smart household devices; Digital platforms, products, solutions, services for digital government, digital transformation in priority areas such as healthcare, education, finance - banking, agriculture, transportation, construction, energy, resources and environment. Pilot research to establish a digital university focusing on training in digital technology. The number of concentrated IT parks and members of the Quang Trung Software Park Chain will reach 9 parks by 2021.

Carry out the tasks assigned in Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 14, 2020 of the Prime Minister on promoting the development of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises. Focus on developing 4 types of enterprises: Enterprises doing

core technology owners, product development enterprises, implementation enterprises and innovative startups with the goal that by 2025 Vietnam will have from 70,000 to 100,000 digital technology enterprises.

Building and perfecting mechanisms and policies to create conditions for the development of the information technology, electronics and telecommunications industry, such as: Researching and developing the Law on Digital Technology Development to replace the Law on Information Technology to promote the development of digital technology. Program for the development of the IT, electronics and telecommunications industry until 2025, with a vision to 2030, proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Put into operation the Vietnam 4.0 Industrial Revolution Center in association with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and simultaneously implement a number of projects and tasks to build 4.0 Industrial Revolution policies in cooperation with WEF.

Developing a digital technology business ecosystem; Organizing activities to connect supply and demand, connecting large enterprises, small and medium enterprises, innovative startups; Establishing a Vietnam Digital Technology Business Development Fund with capital mobilized from socialization.

Field of Journalism and Media

The goal of the press and media is to honestly reflect the mainstream of society, spread positive energy, contribute to creating consensus, creating social trust, and arousing the aspiration for a strong and prosperous Vietnam, contributing to creating spiritual strength for the country to break through and rise up. The mission of the press is very great in the new period when Vietnam aims to become a high-income developed country by the middle of the century.

Press management must go hand in hand with the development of revolutionary press. Especially the press support project for the period 2021-2025, building key press agencies that are truly key. Support the press in digital transformation. Press activities must be in line with its principles and purposes. Thoroughly resolve the situation of harassment; turn into newspapers, magazines, news sites, and social networks; summarize and rectify joint activities.

Table 3.1 : Specific figures in the goals of the information and communication industry in the coming period

Field

Market size in 2020

Growth

yearly

Target increase

growth in the next 5 years

Revenue/Market Size Target 2025

Global ranking target

Postal

1.58 billion USD

30%

Over 30%

6-8 billion USD

From top 50

top 40

Telecommunications

16.5 billion USD

8-10%

25 billion USD

Digital/telecom infrastructure from 80

into the top 30

IT Applications

10 billion USD

20-30%

25-30 billion USD

Digital Government Ranking from 86 to

top 50

Information security

100 million USD

25%

35-40%

500 million USD

Top 50 up

top 30

Digital Economy

8.2% of GDP

15-20%

20-25%

20% of GDP

ICT Industry

123 billion USD

15.2%

2-3 times GDP

250-300 billion USD

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Source: Report submitted to the Prime Minister by the Minister of Information and Communications in 2021

3.1.3. Development strategy of information and communication industry in the coming period

Thoroughly grasping the development orientation and goals assigned by the Party and State, all leaders of the Ministry of Information and Communications together with staff in the industry need to maintain the development viewpoint as follows:

The information and communication industry needs to become a spearhead industry, develop more strongly, and regularly update modern technology and techniques.

Development goes hand in hand with effective management and exploitation to facilitate application and promote sustainable development of the information and communication industry, contributing to the socio-economic development of the country and improving people's knowledge.

From there, implement development strategies such as:

Building and developing a national information and communication infrastructure with modern technology on par with advanced countries in the region, with wide coverage across the country with high quality, speed and efficiency, creating conditions for the whole society to exploit and share information, creating a foundation for the application and development of information and communication to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country.

Provide society and consumers with modern, diverse and abundant services at prices lower than or equal to the average of countries in the region; meet all information and communication needs on economics, society, security and national defense. Implement universal information and communication services to all regions and areas in the country with increasingly high service quality.

3.2. Solutions to improve the efficiency of using official development assistance capital for the information and communication industry in the coming time

3.2.1. Training to improve the capacity of management and executive staff

Correctly perceive ODA with two intertwined political and economic factors to have a correct view on this resource in order to gain international support, effectively implement the policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralization of foreign relations of the Party and State. Each donor has a global strategy on ODA as well as a medium or long-term cooperation program with Vietnam, which clearly states the goals and concerns when providing ODA to Vietnam. Therefore, the Information and Communications Industry needs to carefully study those strategies and programs to have appropriate responses to ensure political and economic benefits. After all, both ODA loans and non-refundable ODA are loans in advance and paid later in material and/or responsibility. Being aware of this issue will help promote the sense of responsibility in the process of receiving, managing and using ODA.

In addition, the Government's general agencies should promote training and guidance on the processes and procedures for using ODA capital and organize the compilation and dissemination of documents on practical management. Regularly organize training for the Project Management Board on ODA policies, processes and procedures of the Government and donors.

to foresee and plan measures to handle inconsistent regulations of the two sides to ensure project implementation on schedule and promote disbursement of ODA capital.

In implementing ODA projects of the Information and Communications Industry, in order for the management and implementation of processes and procedures for using ODA capital sources to quickly come into practice, the Government's synthesizing agencies need to consult with investors before issuing guiding documents and after issuing, need to promote training and guidance so that investors can immediately grasp the State's requirements during the implementation process.

3.2.2. Have a mechanism to select suitable contractors

To limit the situation of contractors who are not qualified enough but win important projects in Vietnam in general and in the IT industry in particular, it is necessary to have mechanisms and policies to strictly manage contractors.

Resolving difficulties and obstacles in bidding is not easy, requiring the coordination of many ministries, branches and functional agencies, including recommendations for the National Assembly and the Government to promptly review, amend and supplement a number of articles of the Law on Bidding and Decree 25/2020/ND-CP detailing the Law on Bidding on investor selection. The Law on Bidding needs to be adjusted and supplemented to create favorable conditions for businesses and increase the possibility of winning international bids. In addition, a solid legal mechanism will become a "filter" to help eliminate and limit the abandonment of weak and unqualified contractors.

3.2.3. The pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of the Industry need to be given due attention.

Whether a project applying for ODA funding is approved by the Donor or not largely depends on the results of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. To achieve such results, in addition to objective solutions such as harmonizing procedures, the Industry needs to soon have specific solutions for this pre-feasibility and feasibility study. Specifically:

- Develop pre-feasibility reports for projects requesting ODA funding right from when the Vietnam Information and Communications Industry plans the development of the Industry for each stage as well as the socio-economic development strategy of Vietnam in general.

- The content of the pre-feasibility and feasibility study reports must be close to reality, clearly analyzing the financial, socio-economic efficiency, environmental impact of the project, the sustainability of the project after completion as well as other factors such as the ability and source of counterpart capital balance, etc.

- The budget for this work is extremely necessary, so the Information and Communications Industry needs to have a separate fund for this activity to ensure economic efficiency for pre-feasibility studies of projects that are planning to request ODA capital.

- The staff in charge of this work need to improve their technical expertise to be able to prepare pre-feasibility and feasibility study reports that are professionally convincing.

- For some projects with complex survey conditions and time-consuming, such as the North-South submarine cable project, the Industry needs to pay more special attention to coordination and cooperation with relevant departments to minimize limitations and difficulties, contributing to improving the quality of the feasibility report as well as speeding up the project approval process.

- Feasibility studies can use both domestic and international consultants as long as the consulting services are highly effective. Increase the use of domestic consultants (including the work of convincing sponsors) to contribute to improving the quality of project preparation in accordance with the actual conditions of units under the Vietnam Information and Communications Industry and reduce foreign consulting fees. For some sponsors such as Japan, the approval procedure for feasibility projects is very complicated, with many stages and steps, so carefully studying the sponsors' requirements before preparing feasibility reports is really necessary and ensures the Industry's initiative.

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