Vietnam Plans to Develop Telecom Industry, Gov’t IT Infrastructure

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Feb. 17 – The Vietnamese government plans to develop a strong telecommunication industry, hoping to boost the use of information technology in government agencies, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Friday.

Addressing a conference in Hanoi, he said an efficient e-government in Vietnam would facilitate the administrative reform process and increase transparency within government agencies.

He also called on the Ministry of Information and Communications to improve training and infrastructure for the telecommunication industry, as well as develop strong telecom companies that are able to compete in the global market, Thanh Nien News reported.

The ministry has to ensure that television reaches all households in the country, Dung said, noting that around six million families do not have access to television now.

According to a report released at the conference, the telecommunication sector grew by 61 percent in 2008, posting revenues of US$7.7 billion. The information technology sector reported a growth of 20 percent in revenues, reaching US$6.26 billion last year.