Hanoi(VNA) - Vietnam’s e-commerce market is forecast to continue growing strongly inthe time to come thanks to a big population with high rates of young people andinternet users.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam is currently consideredone of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia.

The ministry this year will focus on developing e-commerce infrastructure, buildingand completing institutions and legal framework relating to e-commerce, and creatinga transparent and favourable legal environment for Vietnamese businesses and consumers.

It will also submit to the Government a decree amending and supplementing a numberof articles in Government Decree No 52/2013/ND-CP dated May 16, 2013 on e-commerce,and enhance the integration and sharing of electronic data on the handling of administrativeprocedures between the MoIT and the People’s Committees of cities and provinces via the National Public Service Portal and the National Government Service Platform (NGSP).

Attention will be given to promoting the application of information technology(IT) and digital transformation in managing, operating, and finalising platformsfor e-Government at the ministry.

The ministry is responsible for building training programmes for managers and otherintensive programmes for those in charge of e-commerce, as well as organising short-termtraining in e-commerce for enterprises and communications programmes to raise publicawareness about e-commerce.

Inspection and examination for any violations regarding e-commerce will be strengthened,especially for businesses and the owners of e-commerce trading floors, in orderto ensure the origin and intellectual property rights of goods sold via online platforms.

E-commerce activities were improved last year, contributing to driving its developmentnationwide.

The ministry arranged for the application of blockchain technology in goods traceability for certain agricultural products in order to promotethe export of farm produce in the context of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA) being ratified and coming into effect.

It has also supported businesses in applying digital technology in digital transformation,promoting online sales, setting up brand emails, and using smart sales and managementsoftware.

The ministry hasworked on digitalising market information systems and upgrading the export supportplatform at ECVN.com, which is the first such platform in the country to supportlocal businesses in exporting and seeking international partners.

According to the ministry, about 53 percent of the population shopped online lastyear. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s e-commerce revenuegrew 18 percent during the year, hitting 11.8 billion USD and accounting for 5.5percent of total retail sales of consumer goods and services nationwide.

The MoIT has exerted every effort to improve consumer confidence in e-commerce,strengthened the capacity of infrastructure systems and supporting services fore-commerce, promoted the application of e-commerce in key export industries,and developed e-commerce in localities./.