Exploring the 4.0 market model and cashless payment systems in Gia Rai town

Bac Lieu has made many efforts in digital transformation in recent years. Could you please tell us about outstanding results to date?

Digital transformation is currently a key trend that affects all aspects of social life. This is also a great opportunity for Vietnam in general and localities in particular to make development breakthroughs.

In Bac Lieu, digital transformation is a major concern of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Council and the Provincial People’s Committee and is responsibly addressed by all levels and sectors. Thus, this process has produced positive results.

Up to now, the Provincial Data Center has been invested synchronously. A list of shared data has been announced. Digital data have been created in judicial, population, health, education and other sectors. The province has invested in building the integrated LGSP/NGXP data sharing platforms and some information security solutions. In addition, the administrative procedure settlement information system has been upgraded; the Smart City Project has been approved; and the document management system and digital signatures have been widely used in state agencies.

In addition to the above achievements, could you tell us the difficulties that the province's digital transformation is facing?

Along with certain achievements, the province's digital transformation is also confronting difficulties and limitations: The awareness of digital transformation in some agencies and localities is not really clear; digital transformation contents in agencies, localities and fields are not defined. Leaders of some agencies lack interest in digital transformation.

Moreover, facilities and infrastructure for digital transformation in some provincial, district and commune agencies are degraded and asynchronous. Databases have not yet been formed by many sectors. The budget for digital transformation is not commensurate with the tasks and requirements set forth.

What solutions has the province adopted to tackle difficulties and promote digital transformation?

To obtain better digital transformation results and improve the Digital Transformation Index, the province needs to raise awareness and change mindset about digital transformation; foster the leadership role in implementing digital transformation tasks; and improve capacity, management, work performance and socioeconomic development goals in localities and units. In addition, it is very important to coordinate in digital transformation.

Furthermore, it is necessary to invest in developing modern and synchronous digital infrastructure; complete the apparatus, improve the capacity of State management advisors and law enforcement officers in digital transformation; focus on training and fostering digital transformation leadership and management skills for key officials, agency leaders and local leaders; effectively provide online public services, especially full-process ones, to help people and businesses know the effectiveness of digital transformation, speed up digital transformation and use digital platforms.

Additionally, the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities need to improve the work performance of grassroots digital technology teams in order to inform residents to use and apply digital services and products to develop digital economy and digital society. Doing so will help the local government in promoting local people and businesses to actively participate in digital transformation.

Digital transformation is considered an important foundation for smart urban development. Since 2022, Bac Lieu province has started implementing the Smart City Development Project. What are its achievements to date?

The smart city development policy has been implemented by Bac Lieu province for a short time only. In 2021-2025, priority will be given to investment in the following areas: ICT infrastructure and smart data platforms, digital government, urban planning, security and safety, transportation, natural resources and environment, agriculture, tourism, healthcare and education. Responsible authorities will be assigned to be project investors.

To date, Bac Lieu province has ratified the investment policy for construction and implementation of ICT infrastructure and smart data platform invested by the Department of Information and Communications, which is currently making the project feasibility study report. The Department of Police and the Department of Construction have also submitted their investment projects on security, safety and urban planning for appraisal and approval. The rest are making reports on proposing their investment projects.

However, in carrying out projects and preparing reports to put forth investment projects, new tasks have emerged due to overlapping directions between central and local agencies and limited investment capital of the province, while the investment demand for smart city development projects is huge. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the project investment scale and investors to match reality. Currently, relevant units are carrying out procedures to revise the Bac Lieu Smart City Development Project for the 2021 - 2025 period, with an eye to 2030.

In addition, to effectively build and carry out ICT infrastructure and smart data platform projects, it is necessary to simultaneously execute five projects in the following fields: Security and safety, urban planning, natural resources and environment, digital government, and health to ensure project data. However, some agencies have to date not yet prepared any report for proposing investment projects, which has somewhat affected the progress and quality of construction and implementation of ICT infrastructure and smart data platforms. This makes it likely that the Bac Lieu Smart City Development Project will not meet the given schedule.

Thank you so much!