Skopje, 15 November 2023 (MIA) - Digital transformation in North Macedonia is not yet a reality. Processes are becoming more complex, instead of being simplified, electronic signatures are impossible, and we insist on interoperability and exchange of digital documents, yet we lack two basic elements: electronic identification and a new law on archives, said Deputy Prime Minister in charge of good governance policies, Slavica Grkovska and Minister of Information Society and Administration Azir Aliu at the “Building Cyber Resilient Organizations" conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in North Macedonia (AmCham) on Wednesday.

Grkovska and Aliu noted that a systemic approach is needed for digitization to be implemented and to function.

"The framework on digital transformation of society has been established but unfortunately, after so many years it remains incomplete. The implementation of adopted laws is also lacking. The main reasons being: insufficient capacities, funds and awareness for the importance of these issues, including the lack of a more systematic approach and a body that would be in charge of dictating the activities for the implementation and function of such system. We need a systemic, and not an incidental approach," Grkovska said.

According to Grkovska, one of the key issues is establishing electronic identity cards.

"From this point of view, we do not have the basic tool that will allow citizens access to digital services. We have digital services, we insist on interoperability and exchange of digital documents, but we do not have two basic elements: electronic identification through electronic identity cards, and a new law on archives that will treat digital documents as conventional, the same way paper documents are treated now. All preparations for electronic identity cards, the plan and concept, have been adopted by the Government and the Interior Ministry, so the law on identity cards need to be changed next, including in all laws where physical identification is obligatory," Grkovska stressed.

She stated that, for the first time, the law foresees the introduction of a single national archive information system that will be managed by the State Archives.

Minister Aliu said the European countries are already discussing digitization on a different level, while North Macedonia is still discussing laws which the government must amend so that the process becomes reality.

"Unfortunately, all transitions in our country are very slow, and it is even sadder that we still do not see digital transformation as a reality. All countries in Europe have higher-level discussions, like reducing the human factor, while we are still concerned with laws that the government must amend so that digitization becomes reality," Aliu said.

According to Aliu, the digitization agency should be operational by the end of this year. The agency will set standards for a secure exchange of data and will take care of the cybersecurity of all stakeholders.

"This process has two key clusters: the first one is the policies and politicians who in the past 30 years have been working without any concept of digital transformation and societal transition, which is why today we are in this situation, and the second one is the private sector which is not open and inclusive enough with the institutions in solving issues. The government and I, as the minister in charge, believe that we are on the right track with the law, but also with other related laws, in order to have a clear digital ecosystem. The laws are almost complete and we expect that they will be adopted in Parliament by the end of the year," Aliu said.

Regarding the digitization agency, Agency for Electronic Communications (AEC) director Jeton Akiku warned that the agency could employ all experts from the field and leave the institutions without staff with expertise.

American Chamber of Commerce in North Macedonia is hosting a two-day conference in order to highlight the need for accelerated adoption of digital innovations in the sphere of cybersecurity in North Macedonia – both for businesses and public sector.ssh/ad/

Photo: MIA