Day: May 8, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam recently signed a directive regarding e-Government development towards digital governance and transformation.

Despite recent positive results, major bottlenecks remain in the implementation of the work, with data sharing being one of the main issues.

In addition, due focus has yet to be paid on ensuring cyber security, human resources and a budget for information technology applications, as well as the building of e-Government.

As a result, relevant agencies have been ordered to prepare infrastructure and fulfil cyber security conditions to connect national databases.

They have been instructed to use data for the implementation of online public services by December.

Ministries and agencies must work to improve their capacity and quality of services, as well as expand connectivity, surveillance and access control over data transmission networks by September.

Agencies have also been asked to make more efforts in IPv6 adoption, work on information systems and the establishment of a communal digital technology network.

The evaluation of digital Government and digital transformation progress at agencies and organisations should be conducted in December annually.

The agencies are required to devise measures to encourage people to use digital signatures for administrative procedures.

Training for at least 10,0000 civil servants will be organised by December to meet personnel demands.

The development and use of ‘Made-in-Vietnam’ digital products and services must be promoted, with the deadline for assessment set in December each year.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has reported that its crude oil output reached 3.63 million tonnes in the first four months of this year, surpassing the set target by 23 percent.

The group’s revenue in the period was estimated at 292.6 trillion VND (12.74 billion USD), up 62 percent on-year and exceeding the goal by 62 percent.

It contributed some 41.8 trillion VND to the State budget, surpassing its target by 73 percent, and increasing by 48 percent from the same period last year.

Foreseeing upcoming challenges from world economy instabilities, domestic and foreign markets, and geopolitical issues, President and CEO of PetroVietnam Le Manh Hung said the group will continue updating, evaluating and forecasting the macro-economic situation to adjust its management plan, particularly regarding supply-demand, price instability, and inflationary waves.

PetroVietnam will keep its targets of growth, production output, and oil extraction; while capitalising on processed products to take advantage of market opportunities, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has approved reforms to the tax system.

The strategy aligns Vietnam’s tax policy with international practices to meet resource requirements and realise the 10-year socio-economic development strategy to 2030.

It will help stabilise State budget collections from taxes and costs in association with socio-economic development strategies for 2021-25 and 2026-30.

In the initial phase, support will be offered to help businesses and people resume operations after the negative impacts of COVID-19.

Taxpayer satisfaction with tax agencies is hoped to reach at least 90 percent by 2025, and support for people paying taxes electronically to top 70 percent.

The strategy also looks to fine-tune regulations related to value-added taxes on exports and services, and amend those on tax exemptions and refunds in a simple, transparent and concerted manner with related laws.

It will build a roadmap on adjusting taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages and review consumption taxes on products in line with socio-economic conditions for the 2021-30 period.

The strategy will strive to reduce import tariffs to about 25 percent by 2025 and 20 percent by 2030, from the current 32 percent and devise tax incentives for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Furthermore, it will increase taxes on land and houses and impose taxes on sectors that harm the environment.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam secured their second victory in the men’s beach handball of SEA Games 31 after winning 2-0 over the Philippines in Ha Long city of the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh.

The hosts launched various attacks from the start of the May 7 game to beat their rivals 24-14 and 23-12.

Vietnam’s No.10 La Van Lon continued to be the top scorer, as he did during the team’s previous victory over Singapore.

Thailand on the same day defeated Singapore 2-0.

On May 8, Vietnam will face Thailand while Singapore will play the Philippines.

Four teams competing in the men’s beach handball are playing in a round-robin format to decide the eventual rankings.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.

Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency