Residents using the public services portal, helping improve the efficiency of administrative paperwork processing. — Photo baocaobang.vn

HÀ NỘI — Cao Bằng Province is reshaping its development model by placing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation at the centre of governance and economic growth as it carries out a recent Politburo resolution.

As one of Việt Nam's mountainous border provinces, Cao Bằng faces significant challenges, including difficult terrain, limited infrastructure and constrained resources. Yet provincial leaders have identified digital transformation as an opportunity to modernise governance, improve public services and create new momentum for long-term development.

Changing mindsets

More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW came into effect, local authorities say the province's biggest breakthrough has not been technology itself, but a shift in leadership thinking.

Rather than treating digital transformation as the responsibility of information technology agencies alone, Cao Bằng has integrated it into the work of the entire political system. 

Government departments have reviewed administrative procedures, standardised databases and incorporated digital transformation into their operational plans, replacing fragmented technology initiatives with a more coordinated approach.

Phan Thăng An, secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the Provincial People's Council, said digital transformation should be viewed first as a matter of governance rather than technology.

According to An, the province is focusing on three core transformations: changing the mindset of public officials, modernising government administration through data-driven governance and shifting the relationship between authorities and citizens from management to service.

He stressed that meaningful digital transformation must begin with political leaders.

If leaders do not change their mindset, it is very difficult to create substantive change, he said.

The province has reported steady progress in implementing Resolution 57.

Of the 171 tasks with implementation deadlines, 151 have been completed, representing more than 88 per cent, while only one task is overdue. 

The province has also established 1,431 community digital technology teams with more than 12,000 members, helping residents install digital applications, use online public services, activate electronic identification accounts and adopt cashless payment methods.

Digital administration has become increasingly common across Government agencies.

Electronic document management systems are now widely used, online meetings connect provincial and commune-level authorities and digitally signed documents are gradually replacing paper-based processes.

At the grassroots level, local authorities have combined investment in digital infrastructure with staff training to ensure officials can effectively operate in a digital environment.

Administrative reform has also accelerated.

All 1,841 administrative procedures under provincial authority can now be processed regardless of geographical jurisdiction, allowing citizens to complete procedures more conveniently while reducing travel time and costs.

The province reported that nearly 87 per cent of administrative records have been digitised, electronic results account for almost 87 per cent of processed cases and more than 80 per cent of digitised data are being reused across agencies, while citizen satisfaction with administrative services has exceeded 90 per cent.

Youth members from Bảo Lâm Commune help local residents access and use digital services. — Photo baocaobang.vn

Expanding digital infrastructure

Cao Bằng is also investing heavily in digital infrastructure to narrow the digital divide between mountainous and lowland areas.

Provincial authorities have identified telecommunications infrastructure as a strategic foundation for socio-economic development rather than simply a communications service.

The province is working with telecommunications providers to expand mobile coverage, broadband internet and fibre-optic networks, particularly in remote and border communities that previously suffered from weak or unavailable signals.

This expansion is expected to improve access to online education, telemedicine, e-commerce and digital public services, while strengthening digital government.

Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Informatics and Applied Economics Research, said digital platforms should be designed around users' practical needs.

He added that only when people truly understand, trust and use digital platforms proficiently can digital transformation become a real driver of socio-economic development and narrow the digital gap between mountainous and lowland regions.

Telecommunications operators continue to expand network coverage while supporting the province's digital government initiatives.

Nguyễn Chí Dũng, director of VNPT Cao Bằng, said the company would continue investing in telecommunications infrastructure and improving internet connectivity while working closely with local authorities to deploy digital government and smart city platforms under Resolution 57.

In mountainous communes such as Bảo Lâm, upgraded public service centres now operate with networked computers, digital signature devices and online administrative systems. 

Local residents have begun using online public services more frequently, while authorities continue promoting digital literacy through community technology teams and public awareness campaigns. — BIZHUB/VNS