UPDATE, 9 September 2009:

 

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam will receive Credit from the International Development Association - IDA (the World Bank) in the amount of US$ 87.8 million equivalent toward the cost of the Vietnam Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Project, and it intends to apply the proceeds of this Credit to payments for goods, works, related services and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

Project Components and Activities 

The objectives of the Project are to assist the Borrower (a) to accelerate the use of information and communication technology and support institutional development in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration, increase transparency and availability of information and improve public services delivery to stakeholders, and (b) foster private sector development, in particular by facilitating increased adoption of information and communication technology by small and medium enterprises. 

The Project consists of the following parts, subject to such modifications thereof as the Borrower and the Association may agree upon from time to time to achieve such objectives: 

Part A: ICT Leadership and Modernization of the Ministry of Information and Communications 

Strengthen the capacity of MIC in the development, implementation and oversight of a national ICT strategy and policies, consisting of (1) development of E-government capability in MIC through the review and upgrade of the infrastructure, equipment and systems of MIC and selected Department of Information and Communications (DICs); re-engineering of the flow of government processes; and design and roll-out of electronic services; (2) development and activation of informational, interaction and transactional portals; (3) establishment of a training program, and design and implementation of curricula for chief information officers to accelerate the progress of ICT implementation and improve ICT oversight and management; (4) development of the capacity of MIC and DIC staff to formulate and implement ICT policies and regulations; (5) development of the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for IT and telecommunications; (6) development of a national ICT architecture and interoperability framework for E-government. 

Part B: Modernization of the General Statistical Office (GSO) 

Carry out a program to support the implementation of the Borrower's strategic plan for the modernization and capacity building of GSO, for purposes of improving the quality, transparency, timeliness and dissemination of socio-economic and poverty-related data and information, consisting of (1) modernization of GSO ICT infrastructure and processes; (2) improvement in the flow of data and statistical analyses; and (3) development and expansion of GSO Intranet and portal. 

Part C: E-Government 
Carry out programs to enhance the ICT environment and support the deployment of E-government services in each of: (a) Hanoi and (b) Da Nang, consisting of inter alia: (1) development of ICT strategy, policies, architecture and interoperability framework; and review and upgrade of ICT infrastructure, equipment and systems; (2) assessment of business processes and development and implementation of workflow solutions; (3) development and expansion of electronic gateways and city portals; (4) implementation of electronic applications in selected public services, including geographic information systems, electronic procurement, business and land registration, population management; and other government services; (5) support for uptake of ICT by small and medium enterprises through ICT transaction centers; and (6) development of human resources and awareness for ICT. 

Part D: Project Coordination 

Carry out through the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) a program to enhance the coordination of Project activities, consisting of (1) coordination of all Parts of the Project with all Project Implementation Units (PIUs); (2) liaison and coordination with other entities of the Borrower through the National Information Technology Steering Committee on policy, legal and regulatory issues; and (3) liaison and coordination with other development partners. 

The Project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2010.