General Secretary To Lam, Head of the Central Steering Committee on the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, has signed and issued the committee’s 2026 work program.

The program sets out key targets for the year, including raising the digital economy’s share of GDP to 14.5%. The contribution of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation to GDP is expected to reach 17.5%, while total factor productivity is projected to account for 50% of economic growth.

Vietnam aims to rank among the top 65 countries globally and within the top four in ASEAN in the United Nations’ e-government development assessment.

In terms of digital infrastructure, platforms and shared data, the program targets 5G coverage for 70% of the population. It also seeks to ensure that 100% of commune-level officials are equipped with adequate devices and provided with personal digital signatures to handle tasks in an electronic environment.

All work dossiers at ministerial, provincial and commune levels are to be processed electronically. For documents classified as state secrets, processing will be promoted on appropriate systems and networks in accordance with regulations on state secrecy protection. Specialized digital signatures for official duties will be used in handling administrative tasks.

The program also aims to complete and effectively operate the National Data Center, national and sectoral databases, as well as national digital platforms and shared digital platforms across sectors and regions, ensuring that data are accurate, sufficient, clean, live, unified and shared.

At least 80% of information, documents and papers in administrative procedures related to production and business are to be submitted only once to state agencies. All administrative procedures within a province are to be carried out regardless of administrative boundaries. All procedures related to enterprises are to be conducted online in a seamless and uninterrupted manner. A satisfaction rate of 95% among citizens and businesses using online public services is targeted.

The program further sets the goal of successfully commercializing at least five products in the list of strategic technologies, including semiconductor chips, 5G network equipment, industrial robots, artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles. High-tech products are expected to account for at least 45% of total export turnover this year.

The Central Steering Committee emphasized the principle of “clear people, clear tasks, clear responsibilities, clear products, clear deadlines and clear authority.” Adequate and timely financial resources must be ensured to implement assigned tasks and solutions.

It also underscored strict prevention of waste in both finances and time, incorporating implementation results into evaluation, commendation and disciplinary processes, including the replacement of officials when necessary, with outcomes and impacts serving as the key measure.

Building a nationwide commune-level digital transformation model

In developing a digital society, digital skills and a culture of innovation, the Central Steering Committee assigned the Government to direct relevant agencies to review and study technical solutions to link and integrate social media services with the VNeID system for user identification and account authentication.

Such measures must comply with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, thereby enhancing account reliability, preventing identity impersonation and contributing to cybersecurity, information safety and social order in cyberspace. The task is required to be completed in the third quarter.

The Ministry of Public Security will take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies, in developing the VNeID application into a national digital platform to help promote digital government, digital economy and digital society.

The electronic identification and authentication application VNeID is defined as digital infrastructure playing a central role in the national digital ecosystem, enabling citizens to access, use and participate in digital activities in a safe, convenient and efficient manner.

Ministries, sectors and localities are tasked with organizing training to enhance digital skills, administrative processing skills, innovative thinking and a new civil service culture for officials, civil servants, public employees and workers, particularly at the commune level. Priority will be given to convenient and effective training methods that can be accessed anytime and anywhere, leveraging the “Binh dan hoc vu so” digital platform.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is assigned to lead and coordinate with agencies and localities to develop and uniformly implement nationwide a commune-level digital transformation model as a foundational pillar of digital government, ensuring the achievement of targets related to commune-level digital governance and fostering an environment that promotes the digital economy and digital society within communities.

Tran Thuong