Skopje, 27 July 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Information Society and Administration Azir Aliu and Montenegrin counterpart Marash Dukaj signed Thursday a memorandum of understanding on digitization and information security.

Minister Aliu informed that they discussed the possibility for cooperation, North Macedonia's activities related to digital transformation, the Digital Transformation Agency and the possibility to jointly apply with projects to the "Digital Europe" programme, which both countries are a part of.

"As two countries that have many common challenges and opportunities for cooperation, we discussed how they can be realized at an optimal level and how to help each other in the digital transformation. Digital transformation has no boundaries, the stability and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries is very important, both for the citizens and the economy. Therefore, we have a lot of common issues that both countries to work together on and jointly apply for Digital Europe," Aliu said.

He pointed to the online payment system PayPal a one of those possibilities which is in the interest of the citizens and economy.

"We agreed to set up working groups to help each other and jointly apply for PayPal, so that we can have influx, not only outflow, within that infrastructure," Aliu stressed.

Minister Dukaj said that only concrete cooperation and joint forces can accelerate the digital transformation process.

"The only way we can compete with serious countries is through joint forces. When it comes to Digital Europe and PayPal, it is a serious issue that has been discussed for a long time, and I think it will be successful. We could not succeed on our own, previous ministers have tried but not succeeded. The idea is to work together because that is the only way we can succeed in digitization. It is a never-ending process, and it concerns many of our citizens and companies, which means that we quickly need to realize that we have to implement it." Minister Dukaj noted.

He also pointed out that in parallel with digitalization, cybersecurity is also one of the biggest challenges of today.

"Montenegro has taken serious steps towards it and one of those steps was establishing a Regional Center, which has already started training not only people, i.e. experts from Montenegro, but also in the region, and I am sure that that center will become a serious institution that will produce the personnel we need. We have many problems, and surely you and the other serious countries, experts in IT, have as well," the Minister stressed.

Interlocutors also discussed reforms in the public administration, with Dukaj saying that the reform is one of the pillars of every country and expressed confidence that North Macedonia and Montenegro will cooperate in that process as well. ssh/ik/

Photo: MIA