A space of creativity and digital transformation is launched in HCM City

Under the city’s digital transformation program, the digital economy is expected to account for 40% of the GRDP by 2030, when all administrative procedures at the district level and 95% at the commune level will be conducted online. Vo Thi Trung Trinh, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Information and Communication, said the digital transformation process is not so difficult. The city has implemented mechanisms and policies to encourage digital transformation. The Department of Information and Communication is creating a general plan for agencies and districts to implement. Trinh says digital transformation will improve public services.

'Digital transformation will create a foundation for a digital administration that will make state management more effective and convenient. By putting administrative procedures online, all information about enterprises and individuals collected on the public service portal can be easily retrieved and reused,' said Trinh.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, HCM City has promoted carrying out administrative procedures online to reduce direct contacts that might spread the virus. Technology has made completing administrative procedures faster and more convenient. The digital transformation process involves switching from manual methods to digital apps. Tran Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of District 3’s People’s Committee, said the district has put into operation a smart management center.

'We plan to integrate more services into the system – for example, law and order management. We need to move toward smart urban management. District 3 is at the heart of HCM City. The district management needs to be smart and more scientific.' said Binh.

District 3 has developed a smart phone application called “District 3 online” which provides information about administrative procedures, public comments, and resolutions of public concerns by the administration.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge, but also an opportunity to accelerate a people-centered digital transformation. The municipal administration is working hard to persuade the public to get actively involved in the digital transformation process.