Unlocking digital resources in Son La

Recognizing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as strategic drivers, Son La province is gradually undergoing a strong transformation in its governance methods, socio-economic development, and the improvement of service quality for its people and businesses.

The digital economy and digital society continue to develop in Son La, with approximately 30% of businesses applying digital technology in management and production.

Many specific goals and clear roadmaps are being implemented, creating a solid foundation for rapid and sustainable growth in the coming period.

In recent years, the application of information technology in the operation of the political system in Son La has yielded many positive results. Most processes for handling documents, organizing conferences, and preparing reports are carried out in a digital environment.

100% of Party and government agencies use digital signatures; over 96% of administrative documents are issued electronically. These figures reflect a fundamental shift from traditional working methods to digital governance, saving time and costs and enhancing transparency in public service.

Furthermore, digital government has been built synchronously from the provincial level to the grassroots. The province's administrative procedure information system has connected and shared data with the National Public Service Portal, providing more than 2,100 administrative procedures. The digitization rate of administrative procedure results has reached over 95%, facilitating transactions between citizens and businesses and state agencies.

Notably, shared digital platforms such as the Intelligent Monitoring and Control Center and the Open Data Portal continue to be effectively maintained, with hundreds of datasets made public, serving the information management and exploitation needs of society. Connecting with the national population database contributes to improving service quality and gradually forming an interconnected and synchronized data ecosystem.

One of the key factors driving digital transformation is technological infrastructure. Son La has focused on investing in and upgrading its telecommunications system, ensuring access to technology for its people, especially in remote areas.

To date, almost the entire population has 4G coverage; 5G infrastructure has been initially deployed; 100% of communes have fiber optic internet and more than 80% of villages are connected to the internet, thereby narrowing the digital divide between regions and creating conditions for people in mountainous areas to access digital services.

Mr. Hang A Nu, from Lang Sang village, Ta Xua commune, said: "Previously, the village had no phone signal, no electricity, no television... Now, people have access to information through television and radio. Right here in the village, we can make phone calls to other places and access the internet to read the news."

Besides building infrastructure and digital government, Son La also focuses on implementing science and technology tasks linked to practical production and local advantages. Research and application programs concentrate on high-tech agriculture, intellectual property development, innovation in production processes, and improving productivity and product quality.

As a result, the value of many key agricultural products has been enhanced, meeting the demands of both domestic and export markets. Digital payment models, e-commerce, smart schools, smart hospitals, etc., have been maintained and expanded, gradually changing people's consumption and living habits.

To further promote innovation, in December 2025, the People's Committee of Son La province established the Center for Innovation and Digital Transformation Support under the Department of Science and Technology. The Center focuses on applied research and technology transfer; providing science and technology services; supporting the development of digital government, digital economy, and digital society; and promoting the innovation and startup ecosystem in the province.

Comrade Pham Quoc Chinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, stated: To realize the goal of making science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation the driving force for growth, the Department has advised on the issuance of specific plans for 2026 with many key tasks; among which, the top priority is the synchronized implementation of digital transformation throughout the entire political system. Along with that, restructuring the information technology infrastructure and migrating information systems and databases to cloud computing platforms will increase flexibility and security.

The province is coordinating with telecommunications corporations to aggressively eliminate areas with no signal coverage and areas with poor signal reception, ensuring that all areas have access to and can utilize digital technology. Regarding data, the goal is to digitize 100% of records, documents, and core processes, establishing a provincial data center with a shared data warehouse platform that is "accurate, complete, clean, active, and interconnected," serving data-driven management and administration.

Along with infrastructure and technology investment, the province pays special attention to human resources and information security. Training and development programs on digital skills for officials and civil servants are regularly implemented, especially at the grassroots level. Policies to attract and retain high-quality human resources in the fields of science and technology are also being researched and refined, aiming to create a long-term resource base for the digital transformation process.

Regarding information security, Son La applies a multi-layered protection model, organizing 24/7 monitoring to promptly detect and handle cyberattack risks. Notably, during implementation, Son La established clear principles: "Clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear accountability, clear deliverables, clear deadlines." The heads of Party committees and governments at all levels are directly responsible for the results of digital transformation in their respective units.

Initial results show that Son La province is on the right track in the context of the ongoing digital transformation. With improved infrastructure, efficient data utilization, and well-equipped personnel, Son La has the foundation to make breakthroughs and create a basis for rapid and sustainable development.

QUOC TUAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khoi-thong-nguon-luc-so-o-son-la-post960997.html