On March 18, 2025 morning, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Government Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Scheme 06, chaired the first session of the Steering Committee.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a directive speech at the Meeting
Strong, determined, and decisive implementation of the digital transformation
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the Politburo had issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, as well as the establishment of a Central Steering Committee headed by Party General Secretary To Lam.
Immediately afterward, the Government had promptly directed the issuance of an action program to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. The Prime Minister had decided to establish the Government Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Scheme 06 by merging the Steering Committee for Administrative Reforms, the National Digital Transformation Committee, and the Task Force for the Implementation of Scheme 06.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the administrative reforms, the digital transformation, and the implementation of Scheme 06 have been implemented robustly in the recent years, but need to be elevated in scope, quality, and effectiveness.
According to the Prime Minister, to achieve the country's strategic development goals (striving for Vietnam to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045), it is essential to be more innovative, proactive, and decisive in action; set policies and guidelines that are aligned with the situation; and mobilize the collective strengths of the people, the society, and domestic and international resources, combining the national strength with the global opportunities for rapid and sustainable development.
In the context of rapidly changing and unpredictable global developments, with many challenges but also numerous opportunities, it is necessary to have a firm grasp of the situation and adopt flexible, effective policy responses under the leadership of the Party, the governance of the Government, and the engagement of the people and businesses. "We must respond swiftly to the developments in terms of policy, strategy, actions, and implementation," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The goal has been set for the GDP growth of at least 8% in 2025 and a double-digit annual growth in the following years. In addition, breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation have been identified as a priority solution for a rapid and sustainable growth; it is also a key driver for the economic expansion. While Vietnam has made progress and achieved certain results in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, there is still a gap compared to advanced countries, regional peers, and the country's development aspirations.
Immediately after the issuance of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the Politburo had organized inspection teams to oversee, guide, and resolve difficulties in its implementation. This demonstrates the importance of the Resolution and the close direction of the Politburo. Therefore, all levels, sectors, agencies, local authorities, enterprises, and citizens must take action; only through collective movement can the entire nation advance. This will transform the Resolution into reality, into tangible products and material wealth, bringing prosperity and happiness to all citizens. "We are undertaking many tasks in the current context, but this is one we cannot afford to neglect," the Prime Minister stated.
The banking sector focuses on strong digital transformation with security and efficiency
At the session, Governor Nguyen Thi Hong of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) reported that the Standing Board of the SBV Party Committee and the SBV’s Board of Management clearly recognize that the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is fundamental to achieving a high economic growth in the coming period.
Governor of the SBV Nguyen Thi Hong reported at the Meeting
Therefore, the SBV has implemented numerous measures under the Government's guidance and has been recognized for its achievements in the digital transformation and innovation.
Following the issuance of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW by the Politburo and Resolution No. 03-NQ/CP by the Government on January 9, 2025, the SBV also issued an implementation plan with 51 key tasks, including notable initiatives suggested by the Prime Minister, such as a national database project, the promotion of lending through electronic means, and the adoption of new technologies.
Governor Nguyen Thi Hong stated that in implementing these efforts, the SBV has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security to ensure that the information technology applications and the digital transformation align with the goals of banking security and cybersecurity. This will enhance the public confidence in the digital banking services.
To promote the digital transformation and cashless payments, the SBV has also collaborated with the National Population Database for the banking operations.
Regarding the coordination plan between the Ministry of Public Security and the SBV, as of March 7, 2025, 103 million customer profiles have been authenticated using biometric verification through chip-based citizen ID cards or the VNeID application. 56 financial institutions and 44 payment intermediary service providers have implemented the use of chip-based ID cards via mobile applications; 60 financial institutions have deployed chip-based ID card authentication at their transaction counters; 32 financial institutions and 15 payment intermediary service providers have adopted the VNeID applications, with 13 institutions officially rolling out the system. Additionally, 13 institutions have successfully piloted the linkage of social security accounts with bank accounts for social security payments, integrating over 335,000 social security accounts. Nine financial institutions have been considering possible technical integration for credit rating services in collaboration with the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order (C06) under the Ministry of Public Security, yielding positive results. In the coming period, the SBV will further accelerate the digital transformation in the banking sector.
Overview of the Meeting
Regarding the administrative reform, Governor Nguyen Thi Hong highlighted that the SBV has consistently ranked No.1 in the annual Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) for seven consecutive years among the central Ministries and agencies. Right at the start of the year, the SBV had instructed the banking entities to review their internal administrative procedures under the SBV’s jurisdiction. As a result, the SBV has proactively proposed significant simplifications for the internal administrative processes, the regulatory documents, and the standardized procedures, achieving a 34.38% simplification rate. The SBV has also actively contributed to the draft Resolution on reducing and simplifying the business-related administrative procedures and will start implementing the Resolution right after it has been approved.
HM