
Global IssuesInformation & Communication Technologiese-Gov Project paves the way for Modern MacedoniaUSAID’s e-Gov Project’s goal is to ensure that e-Government solutions increase the efficiency and transparency of public sector management in the Republic of Macedonia and open new channels for doing business in an open and secure manner, making Macedonia more attractive to the investment community. The e-Gov Project has developed and implemented a number of e-Gov applications, most of them already utilized by the recipient institutions.
91% of all applicants for jobs in the state sector are using the Apply-on-Line system, developed in cooperation with the Civil Servants Agency, including interactive e-Learning courses. Fifteen contracting authorities are registered to use the e-Procurement system for their procurement. 131 companies are invited by the Public Revenue Office to file their taxes through the e-Tax application. Thanks to the e-Gov Project, 340 applicants for CEMT licenses benefited, for the very first time ever, from a corruption free and transparent distribution of International haulier transport licenses. Application for Monitoring of prescription of drugs has been developed, and the Project is finalizing an electronic system for the preparation of the national Budget. As of this year, distribution and applying for Student Benefits and Social Apartments will be done online. The Accountability through Transparency application offers to the citizens a possibility to be informed about and influence decisions to be taken by the Municipality Councils. The Single window for Export/Import licenses and the Employment registration and will take the on-line interaction a step further. Now automated cross-checking between existing databases will reduce the demand on the business community to submit information already available. The process not only saves time, but it will be fair, transparent, and without any extra cost to be paid anywhere for the service. Most importantly, these applications will result in radical “red tape” reduction supported by the Government of Macedonia. In May 2006, the high level event “e-Gov for Modern Macedonia”, introduced the e-Gov Project work and explained the potential of using ICT for increasing efficiency and transparency. Macedonia Surfing Road Show took ICT to 10 cities around the country, informing and encouraging the citizens to use e-Gov and other on-line services. The online free of charge e-Learning course for
citizens, was introduced to the general public. Three handbooks have
been produced on basic IT skills, IT privacy and IT security. Workshops have
been organized on IT privacy The e-Gov Project continues with the e-Government development, determined
to demonstrate to the Government, the business community and the citizens
that through e-Gov solutions they can achieve greater efficiency, fighting
corruption and bureaucracy. |
"In making government activities more open and transparent, e-government has the potential to fundamentally change the relationship between a government and its citizens." Jerker Torngren, Director of Internews’ Macedonian e-Gov Project |
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