On October 16, the National Assembly Standing Committee continued the 50th Session to give opinions on the draft Law on Digital Transformation.
The report on the Digital Transformation Law project was presented by Permanent Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan.
Accordingly, the bill identifies digital transformation as a top breakthrough; prioritizes the development of infrastructure, data, human resources and promotes international cooperation.
Along with that, the draft also legalizes the principles of digital transformation, requiring state agencies to comply in all activities such as: taking people and users as the center; data-based management. Specific regulations on public access ensure that "no one is left behind" in the use of online public services.
The draft also states the principles of connection and connectivity of the information system serving the provision of online public services; legal responsibility of state agencies in exploiting data and not being required to return documents; ensuring the quality and efficiency of online public services.
The inspection report presented by Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan stated that the Committee agreed with the necessity of promulgating the Law on Digital Transformation. However, it is recommended that the drafting agency continue to review and compare the draft Law with relevant laws in areas such as investment, bidding, state budget, etc.
Giving his opinion at the meeting, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee Hoang Thanh Tung stated that digital transformation in administrative procedures and online public service provision of state agencies is necessary.
Complete management in the digital environment is the goal of comprehensive digital transformation. But in reality, Mr. Tung said that the Government needs to consider a transition period.
During the transition period, there must still be regulations on ensuring the system can operate normally, ensuring service provision and not causing difficulties for people.
"If we speed up the digital transformation process without ensuring infrastructure and human resource conditions, it will lead to problems, which can affect the implementation of administrative procedures as well as the provision of public services to the people" - Mr. Hoang Thanh Tung noted.
Reporting on the acceptance and explanation at the end of the discussion session, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said that this is a difficult law, the world does not have similar laws.
According to the Minister, the viewpoint of law making is concise and framely, to give flexibility to the Government, and at the same time, decrees are being drafted in parallel with the law to ensure consistency.
The Minister also emphasized that the Law clearly stipulates that the conversion of management methods from "paper to digital" and management in the digital environment must be by default, management on paper is an exception.
The law also stipulates the responsibility of heads if digital transformation is not implemented in state agencies.
The law lays a legal foundation for the digital economy and digital society, while converting the content of e-Government to this law and turning it into digital government.
At the same time, the Law also stipulates the national digital transformation coordination agency. The law stipulates specific policies for digital transformation, which is an important part to remove difficulties.
The law stipulates that the State allows the use of at least 1% of the state budget to carry out digital transformation, requiring an effective assessment. This is an important innovation.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also said that the Ministry will study and absorb the maximum opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee to complete the draft law.
