Skopje, 18 April 2023 (MIA) -  The Government on Tuesday promoted the 'Digital Age' program prepared by the Ministry of Information Society and Admiistration, announcing essential reforms, digitalization at all levels in the country through providing fast services for the citizens and setting up a digitalization agencty.  

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski announced a fully functional one-stop system, which will enable 335 points nationwide to receive administration services at one location.

"The activities will contribute to improving the services to the citizens, greater efficiency of the institutions, which will have an effect in reducing corruption and creating a safer digital environment," Kovachevski told a press conference. 

Detailed information about the process of digitalization and digital transformation have been adopted at a Government's session, to facilitate and make simpler the services that institutions provide to the citizens. 

"A digitalization agency is also planned to be set up towards greater digitalization and protection against cyberattacks, which will enable digitalization of public administration and improve effectiveness, transparency and accountability in management. In addition, it will contribute towards stable economic growth in the country. Such an agency will be able to consolidate human resources working in this field, and become competitive in terms of attracting IT engineers, in turn enabling the country to ensure necessary staff in digitalization and cybersecurity," said Kovachevski.  

He noted that this year there will be essential reforms based on the key European principles of digitalization of services aimed at transforming the way in which citizens communicate with the public administration.

In addition, said Kovachevski, further plans are in the pipeline for subsidizing programs of strategic interest for the country in terms of cybersecurity, AI, etc. 

Minister of Information Society and Administration, Azir Aliu, said the digitalization of public services will reduce the time it takes for citizens to receive public administration services.  

"Services will be available in real time, transparent, accountable and cheaper, making clientelism, favoritism and monopolization a thing of the past. As a result, digital transformation will have a positive effect on the dignity of the citizens and the administration employees," said Aziri.  

He pointed out that the new digital transformation strategy will enable citizens to receive administration services nationwide. 

"We are certain that digital transformation will fundamentally change the relationship between the state and citizens, creating the basis for a safe and reliable system that will improve public services, providing them through a national platform," said Aziri. 

He announced that everything will be done to keep the country in step with the global digitalization process and a digital ecosystem will be created for economy, innovation, education, justice, ecology and all spheres in the interest of the state and citizens with the aim to be competitive in the region and in the world.

A special emphasis in the digital transformation will be placed on cybersecurity, which will be one of the pillars of the digital agency that will be set up this year, as well as on improving the digital infrastructure for people with special needs. Young people, the civil society, the business community will be included, in order to provide an inclusive digital ecosystem, for a successful implementation of the processes during the creation of the strategies. 

Aziri called on all state institutions and their employees to support the digital transformation initiative.