Russia is willing to assist Vietnam in developing its e-government via free-of-charge consultancy, technology transfer, and training of experts, said a Russian official.

Scene at the working session

Mikhail Mamonov, Russian Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, made the statement at a working session with Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung in Hanoi on February 20.

Dung commended the outcomes of working sessions between the Russian delegation and Vietnamese agencies during their visit to Vietnam from February 18 to 20. 

The delegation had previously held meetings with the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and leading Vietnamese IT groups. Divided into three working groups to discuss with Vietnamese partners in fields of shared concern, they studied Vietnam’s proposals related to public service portal, e-verification system, centre for cyber security, and smart city building.  

Dung said Vietnam still lacks institutions and legal documents related to the building of an e-government, while facing difficulties in linking data of different ministries, sectors and localities.

The country is working to push for data security as well as data connection and sharing among public agencies and between the agencies and the grassroots toward building a digital government and economy, he added.

The minister asked Russia to help Vietnam build its public service portal, information systems, an interaction channel between the government, people and businesses, a centre for government operation, and a centre for cyber security within the Government Office. The Russian assistance was also expected to come to Hanoi’s smart city development.

Noting that the Vietnamese Government prioritises mobilising investments from businesses in the field and leasing IT infrastructure from the group, Dung recommended Vietnamese and Russian firms work on technology transfer and asked the Russian side to evaluate made-in-Vietnam products.

He requested Russia supply Vietnam with information on legal framework for e-government building and help the country train experts in the field.

For his part, Mamonov put forth a number of projects that Russia can immediately begin. They included giving Vietnam draft legal documents on the procedures of handling circulated documents and on ensuring information security in cyberspace; building a centre for information safety in Vietnam with the engagement of Russian businesses and training establishments.

Russia also can help Vietnam to form Russian-model public service centres in different units under the Vietnam Post, build a public service portal of the Vietnamese Government, and design software used on smartphones, which helps people send their feedback to the authorities.-VNA