Vietnam has said it wants to collaborate with the United Nations on digital transformation in both policy formulation and implementation. This was announced at a meeting between the UN Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Amandeep Singh Gill, and the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the international organisation, Dang Hoang Giang.
Vietnam is willing to contribute to the UN’s policies and strategies in the field, including an initiative on a global digital agreement in the Secretary-General’s report on “Our Common Agenda”. Vietnam can share experiences with other countries and the UN on ensuring online education during the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for future crises. Giang stated that he would connect the office of the UN Under-Secretary-General with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and IT enterprises in contribution to the UN’s digital transformation efforts.
For his part, Singh Gill highly appreciated Vietnam’s achievements in IT development and digital transformation in recent years, especially the government’s implementation of a national digital transformation strategy for 2025, with a vision for 2030. He noted that the UN and Vietnam have a lot of potential for cooperation and plans to strengthen connections with businesses operating in Vietnam’s IT sector.
Last month, a Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation (CF) was signed between Vietnam and all UN resident and non-resident agencies in Vietnam for the 2022-2026 period. The framework guides and steers the government and the UN’s collaboration on accelerating progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the joint commitment to deliver sustainable development for all.
The CF will be implemented at a time when Vietnam has strengthened its post-pandemic economic recovery, responded to climate change, and transitioned to a green, circular economy. The government has also been making efforts to improve institutions and policies to mobilise resources from all economic sectors to develop the country.
According to the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, together with other development partners, the UN plays an important role in supporting Vietnam in its growth, integration, and strong participation in global progress. It offers policy advice to the government, shares Vietnam’s experience with developing countries, and introduces international experience to ensure a sustainable, green growth economy that balances economic and social development.
Vietnam and the UN have outlined four key development outcomes, namely inclusive social development, climate change response, disaster resilience and environmental sustainability, shared prosperity through economic transformation and governance, and access to justice.
Digitisation will play a key part in delivering services to the public, especially citizens in remote and rural areas. Therefore, promoting e-governance is part of the country’s national digital transformation strategy for 2025. The plan aims to have 80% of public services at level 4 be online. 90% of work records at ministerial and provincial levels will be online while 80% of work records at the district level and 60% of work records at the commune level will be processed online. All national databases including those for population, land, business registration, finance, and insurance will be online and connected, with shared data on a government reporting information system.
