Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged information and technology (IT) firms to give priority to IT application in public services.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

He was speaking at Vietnam ICT Summit 2015.

The two-day summit attracted the participation of more than 500 representatives, with two-thirds of them coming from organisations and firms that have applied IT in their operations. This proves that IT has been receiving growing attention from all sections.

Participants at this year's summit, themed "ITC and Smart Management," discussed how to apply IT in all aspects of life, especially in the Government's areas of concern such as health care, transportation, and other public services.

The summit welcomed Vu Duc Dam and former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who shared Japan's experiences in IT development and application.

Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of the IT industry during the past year, including the 16 percent growth and inventions of globally-recognised products. Still, there exist problems such as the slow development of public e-services.

Dam urged IT firms to give priority to IT application in sectors that served the benefits of residents.

He noted that policies and favourable conditions should be created to boost IT application, especially in Government agencies, to hasten administrative reforms, together with tax policies to support and encourage IT firms and IT talents.

IT firms must proactively approach Government agencies to introduce new IT products and must continue to enhance their capacity, Dam stressed.

At the conference, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son pointed out problems such as the lack of comprehensive information and data management system, limited budgets for IT application, inadequate human resources, and the lack of breakthroughs in policies and incentives for IT companies and IT application in the country.

Son said that the ministry has introduced seven measures to boost IT development, including improving policies, encouraging research & development activities, developing comprehensive national information infrastructure, and developing human resources for the industry.

The world's leading IT groups, including IBM and Fujitsu, shared IT solutions for the management of natural disasters, resources, agriculture, transport, as well as health care and smart urban development.

Truong Gia Binh, president of Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, noted that a technology boom has created great opportunities for Vietnam to boost growth.

Held annually since 2011, Vietnam ICT Summit has become one of the most important forums for the IT industry, contributing significantly to promote IT application.