National E-document Exchange Platform to be introduced this week

Last July, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision No. 28/2018/QD-TTg prescribing the sending and receipt of e-documents among agencies in the State administrative system.

Under the Decision, the National E-Document Exchange Platform is a technical solution that connects the Viet Nam Government Office and ministries, agencies, and localities.

Thanks to drastic efforts of the Government Office led by Minister-Chairman Mai Tien Dung as well as participation of relevant ministries, agencies and localities, a great deal of work has been finalized for official inauguration of the platform.

E-document definition

E-document means a document in the form of data message created or digitized from a paper document using a protocol or format specified by a competent state agency, according to Decision No. 28/2018/QD-TTg.

E-documents that bear a digital signature in accordance with law and are sent and received via document management and administration systems specified in this Decision have the same legal validity as paper documents and may substitute for paper documents.

Every e-document shall be sent right on the day when it is signed or in the morning of the subsequent working day. After being received, incoming e-documents which are legally valid shall be promptly processed without having to wait for paper documents (if any).

Every urgent e-document shall be put in the priority mode clearly stating the urgency level, sent immediately after a digital signature is put on it and submitted or transferred for processing right after being received.

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Towards paperless Cabinet

In March 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc tasked the Government Office and the Ministry of Information and Communications and some major information technology companies to conduct tours to a number of countries that have successfully developed e-Government and digital economy.

The Government also established a National Committee on e-Government, headed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Minister-Chairman Mai Tien Dung is Vice Chairman and General Secretary, respectively.

The Committee has worked tirelessly to assist the Prime Minister in issuing a number of legal documents regulating the digital transformation process.

This year, the Government targets to complete formation of the National E-document Exchange Platform which serves as foundation for integrating and sharing national data.

The Platform is expected to reduce time and costs for sending and receiving documents among State administrative bodies while improving the bodies’ effectiveness and quality.

The Government also hopes to put into use an information system to serve the Cabinet’ meetings and work processing (eCabinet) and a national public service portal to monitor online service delivery by ministries and agencies.

By Huong Giang