Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh on August 8 described digital transformation as an importanttool for the building of an independent and self-reliant economy and the extensiveand effective integration into the world.

He made the remark while chairing thethird meeting of the National Committee on Digital Transformation in Hanoi.

The Ministry of Information andCommunications reported that digital transformation was promoted strongly and reapedencouraging outcomes in the first half of 2022.

So far, 100% of the enterprises have usede-invoices, e-commerce revenue reached 11.27% of total retail sales (comparedto the target of 7%), 66% of the people aged 15 and above had payment accounts (1%higher than the target), 70.91% of the adults owned smartphones (compared tothe target of 85%), and 71.75% of all the households used broadband cable internet(compared to the target of 75%).

Digital infrastructure has continued tobe improved, with fixed and mobile broadband internet speeds respectivelyreaching 71.79 Mbps and 35.29 Mbps, up 32.7% and 4.7% year on year.

Besides, 35 national digitalplatforms have been developed, of which 31 have become operational and four ona trial basis. Ministries and sectors have also coordinated to build 50 otherplatforms, including 18 serving the formation of a digital government, 16 for adigital economy, and 16 for a digital society.

Breakthroughs have also been recordedin the digital economy, whose added value has made up about 10.41% ofGDP, according to the ministry.

However, certain difficulties andshortcomings still exist, including the shortages of capable personnel andfunding for the task and the lack of monitoring mechanisms.

PM Chinh, who is also head of thenational committee, said digital transformation needs constant reforms, a breakthroughmindset, a strategic vision, proactiveness, and creativity.

He underlined the importance of mobilisingevery resource for the work, especially through the public - private partnership,while ensuring harmonious interests among the State, people, and enterprises.

He asked ministers, heads of ministry-levelbodies and Government agencies, chairpersons of the provincial-level People’sCommittees, and the steering committees for digital transformation ofministries, sectors, and localities to drastically carry out the assigned tasksunder the national digital transformation programme, the national strategy for developingthe digital Government, and the national strategy for developing the digitaleconomy and society to meet the targets for 2022.

The Government leader also gave outduties to each ministry and sector while requesting businesses, particularlythose in the information, communications, and science - technology industries, toplay an active role in the national digital transformation process./.