The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh on 12 March held a conference to announce the implementation of an electronic ISO software system in the operations of 227 local public administrative agencies. The move, which follows the Vietnamese standard ISO 9001:2015, makes Quang Ninh the first province in the northern region to do so.
In 2019, Quang Ninh had its agencies under the state administrative system transform the quality management system from the previous national standard TCVN ISO 9001:2008 to the latest version, which was the TCVN ISO 9001:2015 (paper version). However, the manual form of management and application of the paper version had several disadvantages. Therefore, in 2021, the Provincial People’s Committee approved an outline and detailed estimate of IT application activities using an electronic ISO software system, according to TCVN ISO 9001:2015, which was referred to as the electronic ISO.
The application ensures the provision of services for involved agencies’ general management and electronic document exchange. According to a report, using the system, workflow will be automated, unified, standardised, and independent of process “participants’ subjective will”. In particular, residents will be able to participate in quality control and work outcomes. Pham Van Thanh, the Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said the standardisation and application of the system in state administrative operations is expected to bolster digital transformation and digital government building in the area. The application has so far gained good results, with 100% of its public agencies already joining the system, claimed Nguyen Hoang Linh, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality Department.
This month, state administrative agencies will focus on reviewing processes and regulations associated with the use of the software system to ensure the smooth operation of the electronic ISO apparatus. In the process of building and operating the system, the Department of Science and Technology must closely coordinate with implementing units to constantly monitor and upgrade the software and integrate it with other national and provincial data sources, the report noted.
A recent evaluation of TCVN ISO 9001:2015 in Vietnam showed it has helped local governments maintain a high level of service and improve sustainability. In addition to creating favourable conditions for the digitisation and management of official records, ISO 9001 has proven to be an effective support tool for administrative reform of state agencies, the study said. These are important steps as the country builds e-government systems and further digitises state administrative processes and procedures. It further added that the use of ISO 9001 has been effective across the board, with particular benefits observed in areas that are considered sensitive from a societal perspective such as attributing land-use rights, issuing construction permits and business registration certificates, and registering and certifying births.
The study observed that across ministries, sectors and regions, interest in applying ISO 9001 has increased year-on-year across the past few years. At the same time, inspection activities and reporting have been confirmed as important supporting factors in achieving good scores in peer assessment ratings (PAR), an index for administrative reform geared toward continuous improvement of administrative services in Vietnam.
According to an action plan recently issued by the National Committee on Digital Transformation, the government will focus on directing and coordinating ministries, sectors, and localities to promote digital transformation and develop the e-government and digital economy through several new targets. The committee will prioritise resources to achieve important indicators of the country’s programmes and strategies on digital transformation, as per a recent report. Vietnam aims to have over 90% of its population use electronic health records for medical examinations, treatment, and health monitoring activities by the end of 2022.
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and localities will cooperate to build an electronic identification and authentication system based on the national population and citizen identification databases. About 15-20% of the population is expected to use e-identification applications by late this year, the report added. The Ministry of Education and Training will coordinate with MIC to develop an online teaching platform, a digital university, and a national digital education resource repository. The two Ministries will also maintain a certain ratio of online teaching in the post-pandemic situation and develop a pilot higher education model in training digital human resources.
Furthermore, the Minister of Planning and Investment will work with MIC and localities to speed up the digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Digital and cashless payments will also be promoted through coordination between the State Bank of Vietnam, MIC, and other ministries and localities. The government aims for the total amount of non-cash payments of tuition and hospital fees to reach at least 50% by the end of this year.
Last December, the State Bank of Vietnam approved the mobile money service licenses of the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT), MobiFone, and state-run group Viettel. In February this year, over one month after Viettel and VNPT officially launched the cashless payment service, more than 463,000 people have used mobile money. As of February, 77,200 establishments accepted the payment method nationwide.
To popularise the service to the public, Viettel set up 80,000 points to provide consultations and support customers in registering and using the service. Mobile money is expected to be a push towards cashless payment in Vietnam, a country where only 50% of the population has a bank account, and most people pay for goods valued at less than VND100,000 VND (US$4.41) by cash.
The development of mobile money will help promote digital transformation and expand the use of cashless payment services to most people, especially those in remote, mountainous, and rural areas. As OpenGov Asia had reported, MIC will build mechanisms to promote, manage and supervise the deployment of mobile money services this year. It will also continue to encourage telecom service operators to transform telecommunications infrastructure into digital infrastructure, which will significantly contribute to developing e-government, the digital economy, and digital society.
The country’s telecom market currently has about 126.3 million subscribers, of which the three largest carriers and those licensed to pilot Mobile Money account for more than 97% of the market share. A Viettel representative said the fact that all three operators are licensed to pilot mobile money will help increase the coverage of the service. Many people still do not have access to digital payments and digital finance presents many opportunities.
In its latest update, the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM), Version 3.5, released essential information with regards to the latest best practices in cyber security. In essence, it is a guide used by all New Zealand Government agencies to foster national security. Top of that list is state-of-the-art cyber security. The last update (v3.4) was released years ago in September 2020.
The NZIM is a product of the country’s foremost cybersecurity experts, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). The government body is considered to be New Zealand’s most powerful intelligence agency – akin to the CIA of the United States or the MI6 of the United Kingdom. It is charged with promoting New Zealand’s national security by collecting and analysing information with an intelligent nature.
The NZISM has existed in one form or another since the 1990s. Then, it was known as the New Zealand Security of Information Technology (NZSIT) policies. In 2004, that document became the NZSIT 400 series, superseded by the NZISM in 2010.
The year 2014 was pivotal as the guidelines included not only the government but also vendor and practitioner communities. As a result, a significant rewrite took place to develop what would become the third version of the manual intended to give further clarity and up-to-date guidance around new technologies. Since Version 3.0 in 2014, the manual has been regularly updated to keep pace with rapid changes within the tech space.
The NZISM‘s controls take into account international information security standards and control catalogues from a range of sources – including international partner agencies, and recognised technical institutions such as NIST, or ISO Standards. Our policy team adapts these to be consistent with New Zealand’s legislation, government policy and the wider New Zealand technology context.
– Spokesperson, National Cyber Security Centre
GCSB explains that the manual is designed to provide a clear layout with regards to “the clarification of governance requirements, role and authority of the chief and of senior executives, and further clarity on the principal assurance process – the certification and accreditation framework.”
Such a top-down approach has been explained in detail by the agency. It adds that this is important because the responsibility of managing risk and security falls to chief executives and heads of government departments and agencies.
The latest version of the NZISM brings with it changes that will impact New Zealand cyber security going forward. Some of the areas with major changes include:
Indeed, cybersecurity is key to a comprehensive digital transformation plan. As data accumulates and technology upgrades, cyber vulnerabilities in the infrastructure could be taken advantage of by unscrupulous entities. Being able to foresee possible weak points in the system is paramount. Such a proactive approach is what NZISM is all about.
New Zealand is keenly aware of this. It knows that not only does it need to promote its technology but also it has to protect it. Its latest foray into advertising to showcase Aoteroa’s tech capabilities to the world shows its dedication to ICT and to digital adoption.
Technology has indeed moved the island nation forward. To push such an envelope even further, the country is creating various research centres. It’s all-encompassing. As reported on OpenGov Asia, agritech in the country is getting a leg up as a new research centre into the technology has just opened.
China aims to install over two million 5G base stations by the end of 2022 to expand the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that brings convenience to people’s lives, Xiao Yaqing, the Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) disclosed.
Xiao made the announcement at the “Ministers’ Corridor” held after the second plenary meeting of the 5th session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing. The congress is China’s law-making body that meets once a year every March.
China’s 5G goals may seem colossal given that the country already enjoys an extensive 5G network. The country has launched over 1.4 million 5G base stations so far providing services to more than 500 million users. In sheer numbers, China is a leading adopter of ICT technology.
In terms of ICT, the main advantages of the 5G network are:
In short, 5G technology fits the needs of digital adoption better than traditional technologies. Speed in transmissions is vital to enjoying the latest emerging technology in the market today (e.g., metaverse, AIoT). By being able to enjoy a higher speed, files and programmes can be accessed in remote applications without much waiting.
It is notable that the degree of intricacy in communications today means there’s a greater volume of data transmitted – which translates to a more pronounced need for robust architecture. Not only is there more intense demand for the cloud, but also more portable devices (mobile phones, computers, etc.) can access it.
Latency is the delay incurred since an order is made on a device until the action becomes a reality. In 5G the latency will be ten times less than in 4G. That means being able to perform remote actions in real-time.
Of course, MIIT is looking beyond 2022 and will likely triple its 5G base station in the upcoming years. Under its aggressive plan, China aims to have 26 5G base stations for every 10,000 people by the end of 2025. In comparison, in 2020, there were five 5G base stations for every 10,000 people in China. Already, the ministry mentioned, the power of 5G was in full display during the recent 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
As advantageous as 5G technology is, it also has its downsides. While it is definitely a lot faster in carrying data compared to 4G and other traditional transmission methods, a 5G network has limited coverage. Simply put, more 5G base stations are needed to cover the same amount of space a 4G base station would cover.
China is definitely using ICT to the hilt and is poised to take strong advantage of its digital economy. As reported on OpenGov Asia, the recent gathering of regional leaders in the recent “Two Sessions” meeting attests to that. During that meeting, the latest in digital transformation technologies were discussed – from cryptocurrency to the latest emerging tech: the metaverse.
Indeed, digital adoption is pushing China forward an, in li with this, the plan of more 5G base stations is synchronous to the fourth state-owned 5G state carrier operating this year in the country.
In a case of one state agency helping another, the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed a Memorandum Of Agreement (MoA) with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to further strengthen the bank against potential cybersecurity threats and boost its capacity to defend critical system infrastructure, a top official disclosed.
CICC is a government body created upon the approval of Republic Act 10175 (the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). As such, it is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Thus, it is also chaired by the DICT Secretary. Its main task as the foremost cybersecurity body of the country is to ensure the Philippines can thwart and defend itself against cyber threats and attacks — internal or external.
Over the years, DBP has grown vigorously since its charter in 1947 after the war. Today, it boasts of total assets exceeding PhP 1 trillion and is considered the fifth-biggest bank in terms of assets on the archipelago. Its network includes 131 branches and 12 branch-lite units. It’s a development bank that provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.
Emmanuel Herbosa, DBP President and Chief Executive Officer, detailed CICC would be providing the necessary technical expertise and assistance to DBP in crafting the bank’s cybersecurity plan. The cybersecurity body will also ensure the bank’s alignment with globally-accepted standards and protocols of the national cybersecurity plan.
DBP acknowledges that investing in cybersecurity is not only a crucial concern but also indispensable to protect the stakeholder data and information stored in our system.
– Emmanuel Herbosa, President and Chief Executive Officer, Development Bank of the Philippines
Under the partnership, Herbosa said DBP and CICC would collaborate in institutionalising cyber policies to pave the way for the adaptation of needed technologies to protect DBP’s data, endpoints, and critical infrastructures.
Moreover, the agreement also entails the monitoring of the bank’s compliance to mitigate threats in cyberspace. That means CICC will assist DBP in coordinating with appropriate agencies in case of cybercrime incidents.
While the pandemic has forced businesses to adopt digital transformation, cyberthreats have also spiked in the region. As operations become more digital, opportunities for cybercriminals also increases. Not only are there more ways to target a business entity but also there are more data for exposure. More and more small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that went digital because of the coronavirus pandemic are experiencing cyberattacks that affect their operations, a recent study revealed. More than half of SMBs in the country experienced cyberattacks in the past 12 months.
DBP’s move is timely. Last December, the Department of Finance directed all government financial institutions under its administrative supervision to enhance their respective cybersecurity defence systems amidst an expected increase in cybercrimes due to a surge in the use of digital transactions. As it is state-owned, DBP is part of that list.
The Philippines is aware of the massive role of technology in moving its economy. Thus, it has recently been putting a lot of effort into piecing all the pieces together in its bid towards digital transformation. For instance, the country is giving technological innovations for its key cities a priority. The Innovative Cities Initiative is bound to make an example out of Makati City — transforming the Central Business District into a Silicon Valley.
As reported on OpenGov Asia, Manila is giving tax breaks and a host of other incentives to mobilise entrepreneurs and businesses into developing emerging technologies under the CREATE Law. Such a focus on digital adoption is creating a lot of awareness for businesses. Just recently, Philippine bankers had the opportunity to learn some best practices on cybersecurity from the United Kingdom.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) K-Tech Centre of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has launched a machine learning operations (MLOps) playbook. It is a compendium of MLOps implementation frameworks and industry best practices. MLOps is a set of practices for data scientists and operations professionals that increase the quality, simplify the management process, and automate the deployment of ML models.
The compendium was launched in association with a private strategic partner and incorporates extensive market research outcomes that have been supported by an accounting and research firm from the industry. The playbook will function as a blueprint for the deployment of MLOps in companies.
A report from the government’s AI portal stated that organisations across industries are spending on AI/ML initiatives to generate business insights from data but are not able to scale their ML models to production at an enterprise level. Manual, time-consuming efforts are required for ML model monitoring, ML model retraining with new data, and subsequent deployment to production environments. ML experiments are not reproducible, and data scientists do not have access to technology infrastructure that can auto-adapt to their needs.
According to a report on the top ten data and analytics technology trends for 2020, 75% of companies will push their AI competitive frontiers by 2024. They will move away from pilot projects to scale AI adoption in production. Organisations that are better prepared to channel their AI investments into the appropriate tools, technologies, practices, frameworks, and skillsets will be better equipped to reap five-fold benefits in their ROI. Thus, organisations will need to solve the challenges that arise due to poor data infrastructure, which is where NASSCOM expects its MLOps playbook to be most helpful.
The playbook was launched at the latest edition of AI Parley, which is an initiative powered by NASSCOM that focuses on creating learning facets for the AI community and where thought leaders can share opinions and experiences on contemporary themes. A panel discussion was held after the launch of the playbook. The discussion explored the issues regarding ML adoption at scale, the need for MLOps to overcome the challenges, and key drivers of MLOps adoption that fuel the success of AI investments in organisations.
Like industry players, the Indian government is leveraging the potential of ML in its operations. Earlier this year, the country launched a project to speed up the delivery of several public services using AI/ML. The project, the Digital Government Mission, will break down silos and make government systems more intelligent. It will help citizens learn about schemes that they are eligible for, and government benefits they can receive. The idea is that the benefits should be offered to citizens without them having to apply for them. For instance, a student who qualifies for a government-funded scholarship scheme will get an automatic alert from the concerned department, instead of the student having to enquire and apply for the same.
OpenGov Asia quoted an official saying that the concept of citizens receiving services without asking for them is necessary, and with AI and ML, the predictive part becomes easier. People should be able to get automatic renewals every time their driving licence or passports expire since all the data is already available with the government, the official explained.
The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has launched the “Top Technology Scholar Programme” to attract Masters and PhD degree holders who have graduated within the previous two years to join ASTRI.
Programme participants will engage in important research projects and gain experience related to the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Those who achieve their performance targets for the first year will be promoted and get a pay rise. After completing the two-year plan, they will be awarded scholarships.
The Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI stated that in addition to developing cutting-edge applied technologies, ASTRI’s mission includes nurturing innovation and technology (I&T) talents for Hong Kong. We are keen to attract outstanding advanced degree holders.
Programme participants will gain practical experience in research and development (R&D) in ASTRI. ASTRI, which, along with ASTRI’s network, will broaden their horizons and equip them to seize I&T opportunities in the GBA and worldwide, in addition to learning about the keys to success for start-ups. He added that ASTRI will continue to adopt new thinking to nurture I&T talents and help advance Hong Kong’s I&T.
ASTRI has been providing tailor-made technological solutions for various enterprises and public bodies to help them solve problems and improve operational efficiency. Its technologies are applied across various areas, including Smart City, Financial Technologies, Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, creating a far-reaching impact.
The Programme welcomes both local and non-local talents who have graduated from graduate schools within the previous two years. The selected candidates will engage in important ASTRI R&D projects. Given ASTRI’s R&D collaboration with many enterprises and institutions in the GBA, the candidates will be able to gain GBA experience and visit industry giants in the area. If the epidemic situation allows, ASTRI will arrange for the participants to go overseas for training and knowledge exchange. Participants can also visit start-ups to learn about their business models.
ASTRI’s management team members or professionals in the I&T sector will serve as mentors for the participants and share their experience and insights. In addition to receiving internal training, the participants can apply for sponsorships to take up to 24 hours of external courses and will have the opportunity to participate in events organised by top I&T ecosystem alliance members and in corporate social responsibility projects.
After one year of employment, programme participants who reach their key performance targets will be promoted and get a pay rise. After completing the two-year plan, Master’s and doctoral graduates will receive scholarships of HK$50,000 and $80,000, respectively.
Hong Kong is working to develop local tech talent. Recently, the Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) presents T2 – the city’s first ever Innovation Tech x Talent month to showcase the fast-growing wealth of I&T opportunities emerging from the city’s vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. HKSTP is scaling up the mission for talent as demand reaches new levels with more start-ups than ever setting up in Hong Kong and continued funding into the I&T sector.
The T2 month-long talent drive features the city’s largest-ever I&T Career Expo with over 2,800 career opportunities from over 270 tech companies. Combined with an expanded programme across three key tracks, namely “Deep Tech Training”, “Innovative Thinking Workshops and Idea Pitching” and “Upskilling Series (Fintech)”, the talent drive promises new career paths for local and global talent at all stages of their careers, professionals from other sectors, as well young students from all backgrounds.
The CEO at HKSTP stated that the Park is committed to propelling Hong Kong I&T into a global force and is prioritising talent as the city’s most critical innovation imperative. With its partners, HKSTP is creating a wealth of opportunities for local and global technology specialists to entrepreneurs, investors to seasoned industry experts, to cement the city’s status as global magnet for diverse talent from all sectors and backgrounds.
Over the past five years, rapid growth has been witnessed in the total number and amount of funding attracted by park companies, indicating a growing appetite to invest in local I&T start-ups. The surging interest and growth in I&T is proof of the sector’s growing importance and its appeal as an in-demand career path for today and tomorrow.
It’s a notable alliance of the best expertise academe can offer with a globally-trusted name in research. A new partnership between Massey University and NZ Product Accelerator is expected to lead the way in technology and innovation, supporting companies and research.
Specifically, the university’s AgriFood Digital Lab is partnering with NZ Product Accelerator to form a new centre in Palmerston North. The collaboration should move the needle in technological advances to benefit the private sector and New Zealand as a whole. The new research centre shall be led by Professor Johan Potgieter at Massey University.
We see this hub as a natural extension of the [lab’s] capability and an opportunity for Massey to lead the way in areas such as sensing and automation, for which Johan is so well known.
– Professor Andrew East, Director, Massey’s AgriFood Digital Lab
To date, Massey’s agriculture programme is the highest-ranked in New Zealand; its veterinary school is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and recognised by Canada, Australia and Great Britain. In short, its standard of academic excellence is well above par.
For its part, NZ Product Accelerator is a government-funded programme that uses New Zealand’s own brand of business for helping companies accelerate product development. In essence, it’s an incubator programme made up of top experts in technology to equip startups and businesses in their drive to achieve success.
Both institutions have been working hand in hand in research for some time now. Since, the Product Accelerator was formed in 2013 with $12.8 million funding under the Ministry for Building, Innovation and Employment’s enabling technology platform, it has worked with Massey University in various programmes.
Massey’s AgriFood Digital Lab is an industry-focused research centre, with work that includes horticulture, precision agriculture, robotics, advanced materials, sports analytics and biotechnology. Its focus is to develop agritech solutions to solve industry challenges.
Indeed, common interest in advanced technologies unite the new research group. That includes:
Such developments are welcomed by industry experts. For example, the lab’s director, Professor Andrew East, was delighted the university was partnering with the Product Accelerator.
For his part, Potgieter, the research centre leader who is a robotics professor at the university, said they had created a centre for some of the most outstanding innovations (e.g., robotics and 3D printing) supporting the new Product Accelerator agritech hub.
The aggressive focus on Research and Development (R&D) should trickle down to the industry. The new research hub, located within “The Engine” on the AgResearch campus in Palmerston North, will support companies and research to accelerate commercial opportunities into local and international markets.
The sentiment has been echoed by Associate Professor Mark Jones, Product Accelerator Co-director. He detailed that they are maximising on a pull-science model of assisting New Zealand companies with technology solutions. To do this, they are tapping into the collective capability in their network and across the New Zealand R&D community.
No doubt, NZ Product Accelerator is cutting-edge. Via this new research centre, it should be able to provide the “missing science” in the field of agriculture technology. It had done so before in new product development, problem-solving, and embedding technology innovation for countless New Zealand companies.
Collaboration has always been central to New Zealand’s approach to technology and innovation. Its road map to digital transformation leaves such a collaborative imprint. As reported on OpenGov Asia, Wellington is letting all stakeholders participate in its technology road map creation.
It must be the secret sauce to Aoteroa’s digital success. Its FinTech industry, for instance, is enjoying a great ride — growing in size like never before.
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