The operation of the national public services portal is an important step towards the establishment of e-government, connecting the government with the people and enterprises and enhancing quality of online public services, according to Mai Tien Dung, minister-chairman of the Government Office.

The launch of the national public services portal. Source: VGP.

The portal (www.dichvucong.gov.vn) would help speed up administrative procedures, at the same time ensure transparency, accuracy, efficiency and convenience for all parties involved, Dung said at the launch of the portal on December 9.

As of present, the portal has completed the process of connecting with the national database on administrative procedures; providing one-time login and verification system to link with respective public services portal of other ministries; online payment system; opinion section for citizens and enterprises; integrating online public services of ministries/provinces; and online supporting services.

According to Dung, the portal’s functions have been reviewed by both domestic and international experts to ensure compliance with international practices.

Dung said the Government Office in cooperation with the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Transport, and Finance, Vietnam Electricity and Vietnam Social Insurance has selected a number of the most common public services to incorporate into the portal.

These public services have been restructured and simplified to make it easier for enterprises and the people, added Dung.

At the time of launching, the portal would provide five public services at 63 provinces/cities, including issuance of driver licenses, announcement of promotional activities; reissuance of health insurance cards, provision of electricity services to citizens, enterprises and payment for electricity bills.

Other three online public services at ministerial-level namely the issuance of international driver license, registeration for promotional activities, issuance of certificate for origins of products are also integrated in the portal.

Dung added four provinces/cities would continue to integrate more services into the portal, such as Ho Chi Minh City with business registration and tax declaration; Hanoi with birth registration and marriage status verification; Quang Ninh and Hai Phong with birth registration.

The use of the portal is estimated to save VND4.22 trillion (US$181.54 million) per year for the state budget. The figure would continue to rise with more online public services incorporated into the portal.

Dung stated with a shared platform and database, the portal would save for each ministry, province and city the efforts to build their own public services portals, enhancing the efficiency in state management and supervision.