However, when contacting state agencies to send documents in this form, the response was that the Company should send paper copies because there is currently no precedent for accepting digitally signed official documents. S. Joint Stock Company recommends that the competent authorities provide specific guidance on this issue so that the Company can send digitally signed documents instead of paper copies.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Home Affairs responded as follows:

To ensure the sending and receiving of electronic documents, enterprises need to meet specific technical requirements such as:

1. Technical technology conditions

a) Enterprises need to have software for sending and receiving electronic documents that ensures the requirements according to Decision No. 28/2018/QD-TTg dated July 12, 2018 of the Prime Minister on sending and receiving electronic documents between agencies in the state administrative system.

b) Enterprises need to ensure that the technology infrastructure system meets the requirements on information security and safety according to the provisions of Decree No. 85/2016/ND-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government on ensuring information system security at all levels.

c) Enterprises must have a digital signature in accordance with the provisions of law provided by one of the following units:

- National digital signature certification service provider;

- Government specialized digital signature certification service provider;

- Public digital signature certification service provider;

- Specialized digital signature certification service provider of agencies and organizations that are granted certificates of eligibility to ensure security for specialized digital signatures as prescribed in Article 40 of Decree No. 130/2018/NDCP1 dated September 27, 2018.

2. Conditions for connecting electronic documents

Currently, the National Document Interconnection Axis implements electronic document interconnection between agencies in the state administrative system managed by the Government Office; Enterprises are requested to contact the Government Office to request connection of electronic document sending and receiving software with the National Document Interconnection Axis to send and receive electronic documents. 

After the enterprise fully meets the above requirements and is permitted by the Government Office to connect to the Electronic Document Interconnection Axis, the Enterprise can then send and receive electronic documents to state administrative agencies.