Local residents visit the Public Administration Service Centre in Tiền Giang Province’s Mỹ Tho City. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Hưng

HCM CITY — The Mekong Delta province of Tiền Giang is using information and communications technology to improve public administration as well as its management and competitive capacities.

Trần Văn Dũng, head of the provincial Department of Information and Communication, said that more money has been spent on information technology infrastructure and information systems in an effort to serve the public and enterprises.

Last year, the province was among the top five in the country with the highest information and communication technology development index.

The province uses shared information systems for document management and administration, emails, and "one-door" administration.

The system for document management and administration has so far accessed by more than 27,000 users. The rate of documents sent online between the state offices in the province is more than 80 per cent.

All of the state offices use digital signatures on online documents.

Administrative procedures are published on the provincial electronic portal of https://dichvucong.tiengiang.gov.vn.

Fifty-two per cent of administrative services have been carried out online in category 3, which consists of forms that need to be filled out; and 45 per cent in category 4, in which forms are filled out and payments made online.

Lê Thị Kim Pha, deputy head of Public Administration Service Centre, said that all administrative procedures are carried out in a rapid, clear and convenient manner.

The centre, which opened earlier this year, has significantly improved administrative procedures in the province. Vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, Phạm Anh Tuấn, said that locals no longer have to visit many departments. The centre has 16 service booths with clear procedures for online public services.

The centre serves nearly 500-600 people daily and staff service is friendly and enthusiastic, she said.

The centre is also working with the provincial post office to send the results of administrative procedures to people’s residences in a timely manner.

Dương Thị Dung of Chợ Gạo District said that she was given clear instructions and received the results of her administrative requests before the due date.

Another resident, Lưu Vương Khang of Châu Thành District, said that he had visited the centre to apply for an aquatic exploitation license. The centre’s staff answered his questions politely, he added.

The province’s public administrative reform index rating last year was 79.68 points, placing it 48th out of the country’s 63 provinces and cities. Its index in 2018 was 73.69 points.

Its satisfaction index in public administration services last year was 83.39 per cent, 6.97 percentage points higher than in 2018.

Dũng said the Department of Information and Communication and agencies have organised training courses for cadres about e-government, the use of information systems and online administrative services, and cybersecurity.

The provincial People’s Committee has approved a project for the Mekong Software Park, which will be built in Mỹ Tho city’s Tân Mỹ Chánh Commune to provide infrastructure for IT development, especially for the software industry.

The park will provide solutions for the implementation of e-government and will train high-quality human resources.

Dương Văn Thái, head of infrastructure management and development division at the park, said the park is cooperating with Quang Trung Software Park in HCM City’s District 12 to develop stronger connections between the parks.

Last year, the province’s Việt Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) score was 43.21 out of 60, placing it 38th in the country. —VNS