CONSULTING ROUNDTABLE – STRATEGY FOR DIGITAL AGENDA OF ALBANIA 2014-2020

Tirana, 07 November 2014 – the State minister for Innovation and Public Administration with the support of Swiss Embassy, through Decentralization and Local Development Programme (dldp), organized today a consulting roundtable with stakeholders, in the framework of drafting STRATEGY FOR EUROPEAN DIGITAL AGENDA OF ALBANIA 2014-2020.

This roundtable was led by State Minister for Innovation and Public Administration Ms. Milena Harito and welcomed by Deputy Chief of Mission of SDC in Albania, Mr. Holger Tausch.

The event brought together experts on the field of information technology and public and private institutions, representatives of the telecommunications, banking industry etc.

The main objective of the Digital Agenda is to create sustainable economic benefits and social foundation of the digital single market based on the use of information technology. The aim of this strategy is that Albania achieves competitive levels in the field of Information Communication Technologies in the region and beyond.

In this consultative roundtable, the Director of Cabinet of MoIPA introduced the main ideas of the Digital Agenda Strategy of Albania, emphasizing the main objectives of the Albanian Government for the information technology sector and the steps to be taken:

•Improving the regulatory environment and the reconstruction of the new engineering structure, setting up institutional coordination;

•Building the necessary infrastructure; (Digitalizing and Modernization + Construction);

•Establishing an internal monitoring system;

•Centralized model of service delivery;

•Increased accountability by publishing performance results;

•Improvement and consolidation of ICT Infrastructure Development.

Digital Agenda of Albania intends to lead the country in the innovative and technological developed areas, affecting the sector of education, health, public service, tourism, etc. One of the innovation points of Digital Agenda is the attention dedicated for the first time to the local government, as the closer level to community, by introducing ICT potentials for optimization of services to citizens.

Stakeholders had the opportunity to express their opinions during working groups’ session, which was part of event agenda, in order to ensure inclusiveness of all participants’ objectives.

The State Minister for Innovation and Public Administration Ms. Milena Harito stated during her speech the Albanian Government objectives and commitment to achieve the best technological approaches in relation to social and economic context of the country, aiming to have a prosperous society, based on innovation and technology.