Vietnam issues national action plan to boost digital economy

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh signed Decision No. 1437/QD-TTg on November 19, officially issuing the National Action Plan for Digital Economic Development for the 2024-2025 Period, the Government News has reported.

It aims to advance the digital economy and achieve the goals set out in the National Strategy for Digital Economic and Social Development to 2025, with an orientation towards 2030.

The action plan identifies key growth areas for Vietnam’s digital economy, focusing on the development of digital technology and data as critical inputs for production and business activities across various industries and sectors. This approach aims to enhance overall efficiency and competitiveness in the economy.

It sets out four key tasks and solutions.

First, developing an information and communications technology (ICT)-based digital economy: transform the information technology (IT) industry into a foundational driver of the digital economy. Strong digital technology businesses will be pivotal in promoting digital economic growth across sectors.

Second, developing digital data: accelerate the readiness of high-quality datasets and promote data circulation, sharing, and openness; accelerate data integration, reuse, and circulation to drive innovation and improve efficiency; and research and pilot data exploitation scenarios and develop digital applications.

Third, developing the digital economy: facilitate digital transformation across all sectors, with a focus on businesses; create new growth drivers based on data, digital technology, and innovation; enhance governance and management capacity for socio-economic infrastructure, business operations, and new business models; and promote consumer demand for products and services in the digital environment.

Priority sectors with significant potential for digital economic development in Vietnam include wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, the manufacturing and processing industry, tourism, and logistics.

Fourth, digital governance: pilot digital governance initiatives in ministries, agencies, and localities to expand virtual assistant platforms to support officials in drafting legislation and public service implementation; assist citizens with legal matters; and refine the data-driven operation model through the Intelligent Operation Center (IOC) for broader dissemination to localities.