The application of e-commerce can help local businesses enhance theircompetitiveness and boost the country's industrialisation andmodernisation, said a ministry official at a seminar held in HCM CityonApril 21.

Phan The Hao, head of the Ministry of Industry andTrade's representative office in HCM City, said in the context ofglobalisation the country should increase the use of e-commerce toexploit new business opportunities in the international market.

LaiViet Anh, manager of the Department of E-Commerce and InformationTechnology's Legal Deskt, said that with the development of theinformation technology and internet boom, the Ministry of Industry andTrade had created a plan to 2015 to apply e-commerce in many fields.

Underthe plan, online transactions would be conducted by 80 percent ofpublic services related to exports, imports, customs, tax declarationsand payment procedures. Business and investment certificate applicationswould also be done online.

By 2015, 50 percent of public services related to commerce and production activities would be offered online.

Under the plan, all large companies are expected to apply e-commerce by 2015.

Itis estimated that 70 percent of large companies will use emails, 80percent will have website,; 70 percent will sell products and servicesthrough websites, 5 percent will have B2B and B2C transactions, and 20percent will use software in business administration.

Viet Nam isalso expected to establish a goods-transaction online department anddevelop reputable companies that will provide e-commerce services forthe country and region.

As for small companies, 100 percent areexpected to use email; 45 percent would have websites, and 30 percentwould buy and sell products and services online.

Under theministry's plan, 70 percent of supermarkets, shopping centres and moderndistributors would allow customers to pay by credit card instead ofcash.

Fifty percent of electricity, water and telecommunicationservice providers and 30 percent of transport, culture and tourismservice providers are expected to accept online payments.

Le DucAnh, deputy manager of the Department of E-Commerce and InformationTechnology's Online Public Service Desk, highlighted the importance ofapplying electronic signatures and securing data and information oforganisations and businesses that use e-commerce.

Anh recommendedthat businesses use electronic signatures for transactions so that theycan prevent fake signatures used in emails and other transactions.

Accordingto the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the country needs to completelegal systems about e-commerce, develop human resources for e-commerce,enhance public services online, apply e-commerce technologies, and boostthe state's effectiveness and management capacity of e-commerce.

Theministry has also developed a plan to promote e-commerce at localitiesin order to help businesses become familiar with e-commerce.

It also plans to offer training for e-commerce workers.

Asof last month, all 63 provinces and cities across the country havedeveloped plans to apply e-commerce in the 2011 – 15 period.

Plans of 34 localities have been approved, 17 plans have been completed, and 12 are waiting for approval./.