Hanoi considers e-government key for breakthroughs in administrative reforms

Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has adopted video conferencing technology at all 579 wards, communes and villages, while establishing and putting into use core databases on population, enterprises and insurance, among others.

Vice Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang at a one-stop shop at Bac Tu Liem district. Photo: Pham Hung.

Thanks to broad application of information technology in processing administrative procedures, over 1,448 online public services in Hanoi, or 81% of the total, are available at advanced stages of 3 and 4 out of a 4-level scale so far.

Meanwhile, the number of online applications submitted to the municipal public services portal has hit the 300.000 mark, with 90% of which being processed on time.

Notably, the rate of online tax declaration has reached 98%, online tax payment 95%, and 100% enterprises register businesses online.

This year, Hanoi targets 100% of documents exchanged among state agencies are in form of e-document; reducing the average time of meetings by 30 – 50%; 90% of meetings of the municipal People’s Committee and 80% of meetings among local units are carried out online; progressively adopting public online services at advanced stages 3 and 4 for 100% of all administrative processes, with at least 35% of which in stage 4.

To achieve these targets, Hanoi has completed expanding the wide area network (WAN) to 100% of communes, wards and villages, while providing sufficient IT infrastructure to local authorities at grassroots levels for greater convenience of enterprises and citizens in handling administrative processes.

In Dong Da district, the local government has set up various chat groups for quick assignment and efficient management. Therefore, those participating in these groups can access new information and issues that required immediate attention.

Additionally, internal operations of the local authorities are managed via an online working system using digital signatures.

“The system has been connected with that of the city, helping us reduce costs and expenses related to paper documents,” said Do Thuy Linh, an IT staffer at Dong Da district People’s Committee.

“By working in an online environment, we have been able to maintain smooth operations while still complying with the social distancing orders during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Linh added.

Similarly, all 18 wards in Hai Ba Trung district are now adopting online working system to send and receive e-documents.

Dong Hong Anh, a public servant at Bach Mai ward, said the rate of people using online administrative services is up to 90%.

The Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) of Hanoi in 2018 was 83%, resulting in an increase of 16 ranks against 2017 and completing  two years in advance the targets set in Program No.08 of the municipal Party Committee on administrative reform in 2016 – 2020.

Hanoi remains the second of 63 provinces/cities in the public administration index (PAR) for two consecutive years 2018 – 2019; 9th nationwide in the provincial competitiveness index (CPI) in 2018, rising 15 positions against 2015; and ranked second nationally in index of IT application readiness, among others.