Vietnam officially releases ICT White Paper 2017

Vietnam ICT White Paper 2017 reflects ICT development in the country during the past two years - Credit: ictnews.vn

This year, the White Paper provides statistics on the performance and development of the ICT sector in 2015 and 2016, covering IT applications, the IT industry, information security, telecommunications, internet and postal services, as well as research and training in ICT and other related fields. Data is aggregated from reports by the concerned ministries, sectors, localities, training institutions, associations and IT enterprises.

The document added a number of indicators in line with international practices, meeting information requirements to manage and promote ICT development in Vietnam, including online public services, IT applications in enterprises, and TV audience measurement metrics.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, MIC Minister Truong Minh Tuan said that in 2016, the growth rate of the ICT industry increased by 9.1%, 3% higher than the country’s GDP growth. According to the rankings provided by various international organisations, Vietnam has been named on the world IT map, especially in the field of IT services and software outsourcing.

MIC Minister Truong Minh Tuan stresses the importance of the White Paper 2017 at the launch for the document on September 19 - Credit: NDO

Stressing the importance of the paper issuance, as it reflects the status of ICT development in the country, Minister Tuan affirmed that the international organisations, when making rankings on ICT development, would have to base them on the data provided in the book. Foreign investors should look at the statistics in the White Paper to decide whether to invest in Vietnam, said the MIC minister.

According to the white paper, the IT industry is becoming a fast-growing, sustainable economic sector with high turnover and high export value, significantly contributing to the nation’s GDP.

The total number of IT enterprises nationwide in 2016 was estimated at 24,501, an increase of 13.13% compared to 2015. The total revenue of IT sector in 2016 was at over VND 1.5 trillion (US$66 million), an increase of nearly 11.5% over 2015.

IT export turnover was estimated at US$60.8 billion, of which electronic hardware stood at over US$57.7 billion and software at US$2.5 billion. Total State budget contribution reached VND34.3 trillion, equivalent to 3.4% of the total State budget.

The ICT White Paper 2017 is printed in two versions, both in Vietnamese and English, in which the English version will be finalised, printed and released later in October. The MIC also plans to publish the annual paper in electronic format on its portal.

The first ICT white paper was published by the MIC in 2009.