Ha Long, a city in Quang Ninh province, aims to have a 20%-25% average annual growth rate in the number and value of cashless payments by 2025. Officials recently held a teleconference discussing the implementation of a project for non-cash payment development for 2022-2025 across the city’s 33 communes and wards.
The project aims to bolster the growth of cashless payment in the local economy by making digital payment methods a habit of residents in urban areas. Gradually, it will develop the technology in rural areas and reduce social costs related to cash, a report has stated.
Ha Long plans to secure cashless payments, improve the banking system’s operational efficiency and state authorities’ supervision and management effectiveness, and use emerging technologies to develop a robust payment infrastructure system. By 2025, it expects that at least 90% of the residents aged 15 and above will have cashless transaction accounts. Up to 99% of contributions to the State budget and 100% of tuition fees at local schools and educational establishments are expected to be paid through digital methods.
Other sectors of the city’s economy are also implementing ways to pay for services electronically. In April, the Quang Ninh People’s Committee agreed to pilot a smart tourism model without cash at the Tuan Chau international tourism complex in Ha Long. Starting from May, the model will be piloted for 12 months.
In February, Ha Long put into use a smart application to promote digital transformation. The application is part of the city’s intelligent operations centre (IOC), and through it, people can send reports to authorities, access online public services, and use a map to find departmental headquarters, tourist attractions, hotels, schools, etc. It also provides information from local administrations and media outlets. Users can look up health stations and easily access COVID-19 treatment advice.
All public opinions submitted on the application will be sent to the IOC and then to the agencies in charge of the issues mentioned for settlement. Settlement results will also be publicised on the app so that people can check and assess state agencies’ performance. Authorities have noted that the app will help increase state agencies’ interaction with locals, thereby contributing to a civilised, modern, open, transparent, and friendly living environment in the city. More functions will be added to the app to further connect people.
The moves by Ha Long are part of Quang Ninh’s efforts to develop the digital economy and establish itself as a leader in comprehensive digital transformation at the provincial level. Among the targets for 2030, the province hopes the digital economy will account for about 30% of GDRP, and labour productivity will increase by over 13% annually.
Further, it aims to have all documents and papers at the district and communal levels handled digitally, 99% of the local adults to have e-payment accounts, and 90% of state agencies’ monitoring activities be conducted on information systems. It plans to host at least 500 digital businesses by 2030. Quang Ninh ranked fourth among the country’s 63 provinces and cities in the 2020 Digital Transformation Index rankings, following Da Nang city and the provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Bac Ninh.