Two-level government in Cao Bang: Innovation to better serve people

The implementation of a two-level government in Cao Bang has created a clear change in administrative reform, application of science and technology, promoting digital transformation, gradually putting digital government into practice, effectively serving people and businesses.

The delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology worked with the Department of Science and Technology of Cao Bang province on the operation of two-level local government.

Working with the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Cao Bang province on August 26, a representative of the Department of Science and Technology of Cao Bang said that, implementing Plan No. 02-KH/BCĐTW dated June 19, 2025 of the Central Steering Committee, the Department of Science and Technology has advised the People's Committee of Cao Bang province to issue two key plans (1848/KH-UBND and 1919/KH-UBND) to promote digital transformation in a connected, synchronous, fast and effective manner, ensuring flexible adaptation of the 2-level government model.

Digital transformation and administrative reform: Initial results

Up to now, Cao Bang 's administrative procedure settlement information system has basically operated stably, providing 639 full-service online public services and 1,136 partial online public services; completed connection with the National Public Service Portal, national database on population, business registration, justice... synchronizing data, integrating digital signatures, and online payment.

The province has created 4,859 commune and ward staff accounts and issued new digital certificates to serve the processing of electronic records. The rate of re-exploitation of Cao Bang province's data information reached 60%.

The Provincial People's Committee issued level 1 and level 2 electronic identification codes for agencies and units to serve the connection and data sharing with ministries, branches, localities and between agencies and units in Cao Bang province, including 140 codes of 56 new commune units and 22 provincial units. The provincial data integration and sharing platform operates stably, connecting the national data axis; the online meeting system is deployed to 56 commune People's Committee points, connecting smoothly from the Central to the grassroots.

The initial human resources were arranged with 448 officers and technicians from Viettel, VNPT, Post Office... providing direct support in 56 communes and wards. The Department of Science and Technology has organized many training courses and digital skills training for officers and civil servants to improve operational capacity. However, telecommunications infrastructure in many villages is still limited; information technology equipment is lacking and outdated, while implementation funding still depends largely on support from the Central Government.

The working group conducted a field survey at the Cao Bang Provincial Public Administration Service Center.

Regarding quality measurement standards management, Cao Bang province has fully prepared the conditions for implementation according to decentralization, issued training plans for commune and ward officials; promoted the application of the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system; built a product traceability system, connected to the National Traceability Portal.

Regarding the management of science and technology tasks, the Department has changed the method from "management" to "creation", encouraging agencies and enterprises to order tasks according to practical needs; promoting independent appraisal and on-site supervision before acceptance; promptly updating information of administrative units after the merger, ensuring implementation progress.

The fields of technology, innovation, radiation and nuclear safety continue to be stable and uninterrupted. Intellectual property management, support for enterprises in technological innovation and creative startups are implemented according to current policies and mechanisms, contributing to the formation of a local innovation ecosystem.

For the 2-level model to operate effectively and sustainably

Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Cao Bang, Nong Thi Thanh Huyen, said that the two-level local government model in Cao Bang has been operating stably and smoothly after nearly two months and has gradually become routine. However, in the actual implementation process, Cao Bang still faces some difficulties and obstacles, such as: Large, fragmented area, sparse population, 95% of whom are ethnic minorities; limited telecommunications infrastructure, information technology equipment, and smartphones, especially in remote areas.

Director of Cao Bang Department of Science and Technology Nong Thi Thanh Huyen, speaking at the meeting.

The human resources for digital transformation are lacking and of low quality; many commune-level officials hold multiple positions and have uneven qualifications. Some systems and platforms of ministries and sectors are not operating stably and synchronously, causing difficulties in connecting, sharing data and providing online public services.

Meanwhile, in communes and wards, information technology equipment is old, with weak configuration, not meeting the requirements for digitalizing records; the one-stop system and digital signature still have errors, causing delays in records. The online public service system is not synchronized; the national public service portal is sometimes overloaded. Decentralized tasks are still overlapping, with unclear authority; there is a lack of specialized focal points for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation at the commune level...

Cao Bang Province recommends that the Ministry of Science and Technology support training, fostering, coaching and soon issue guidelines, handbooks/manuals for commune and ward officials on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; maintain and upgrade software systems, ensure stable and smooth operation; support funding for equipment procurement, ensure operating conditions for 2-level authorities; soon complete telecommunications infrastructure and power grid in areas with weak signals, no signals or no electricity.

In addition, it is recommended that the Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality prioritize the arrangement of programs and projects under Decision 36/QD-TTg and Decision 1322/QD-TTg to directly support disadvantaged mountainous provinces and consider directing specialized units to support the province in implementing small-scale, science-based, low-cost productivity and quality models. Support the implementation of simple, low-cost digital transformation application solutions to serve traceability and quality management. Consider selecting a number of large enterprises in Cao Bang with the capacity to train employees to become productivity and quality experts, then support small enterprises in the province.

In Cao Bang, the working group of the Ministry of Science and Technology also conducted a field survey at the Cao Bang Provincial Public Administration Service Center and the Thuc Phan Ward Public Administration Service Center.

The delegation visited the Thuc Phan Ward Public Administration Service Center.

Ms. Doan Thi Le Quyen, Vice Chairwoman of the Ward People's Committee and Director of the Thuc Phan Ward Public Administration Service Center, said: Since July 1, the Center has received 2,386 administrative procedure files, of which 2,047 files have been resolved on time, contributing to improving the quality of service for people and businesses.

However, the implementation process still faces many difficulties such as: The tax industry's software system has not been connected to the National Public Service Portal and the provincial system; equipment is still lacking; civil servants have not been fully trained in information security and there is a lack of specialized human resources in network security.

Ms. Doan Thi Le Quyen proposed that the Ministry and specialized agencies soon deploy an interconnected software system, organize in-depth training on network security for officials, and issue specific instructions in determining the rate of online public service usage by people and businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Sy Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Assessment and Appraisal, Head of the working delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology acknowledged and highly appreciated the implementation results of Cao Bang in operating the 2-level government model, especially in handling administrative procedures associated with people's satisfaction.

At the working sessions, representatives of the working delegation directly answered questions raised by localities, while focusing on guiding the implementation of regulations and business processes and sharing practical experiences in implementing decentralization and delegation tasks in accordance with local conditions.

In addition, the working group continued to synthesize recommendations and report to the Ministry's leaders to promptly find solutions to remove difficulties, in order to ensure that the two-level local government model in the field of science and technology in Cao Bang operates stably and effectively, serving people and businesses well.

HIEP DUC

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chinh-quyen-2-cap-o-cao-bang-doi-moi-de-phuc-vu-nguoi-dan-tot-hon-post904160.html