IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Victorian State Government is going digital with its eServices Register, built in partnership with SAP company and Cloud-based business commerce company, Ariba.

The register is an online self-service portal that all Victorian Government departments and agencies will use to purchase ICT services. In addition, suppliers looking to do business with State Government can register and create detailed profiles that outline their services and capabilities.

What does it mean to be fully digital?

Digital government isn’t about how many services are available online. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as the automation of services progressively leads to a decline in the use of online and mobile transactions.

For government, it’s a means to enable affordable and sustainable services and operations.

The new register aims to tackle the competition issues that have plagued the Victorian ICT industry for some time now. In the past, tenders were frequently awarded by default to incumbent IT vendors, cutting out rival bids from other companies and start-ups.

“The eServices Register will provide a simplified process for Victorian ICT companies bidding for government work, and allow the Victorian Government to make more informed purchasing decisions from a greater range of suppliers as well as monitor the range and scope of eServices engagements”, said Gordon Rich-Phillips, Technology Minister of Victoria.

According to sources in the Ministry, 3 kinds of e-services have already been applied including the receipt of e-applications, complaints and proposals, e-registration for appointment with administrative posts (minister, deputy minister, heads of departments) of the ministry, receipt of e-document for issuance of licenses to tourism companies, hotels and other facilities for tourism activity.

Speaking at the opening of the hearings, Agency’s chairman Inam Kerimov stated that the draft program has passed the process of inter-ministerial coordination.

All government agencies in Azerbaijan will soon offer electronic services to citizens and foreigners residing in the country, following a presidential decree signed on May 23, 2011.

The online portal is scheduled to launch within three months since publishing the law. Once in operation, it will allow access to services, such as applications for property ownership certificates, getting a foreign diploma recognized or arranging address registration. The cabinet of ministers has yet to determine the full scope of services that each government agency may offer electronically.

"The ministry carries out systematic measures for introducing and expanding e-services, and is preparing the appropriate electronic support and the necessary legislative framework. Today, duties are paid in the online mode, and documents confirming these payments are also carried out in e-form," Safarov said.

The total number of users made 282,929. They used 820,555 e-services, according to the Information and Calculation center of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan.

The statistical data is provided beginning from December 2012.

On 23 May 2011 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On measures for the application of e-services by state agencies”. Since this decree is of importance both in developing e-government and further strengthening the fight against corruption, News.Az interviewed Fuad Alasgarov, head of the Presidential Administration's department for work with law-enforcement agencies.

The statement came from head of the group of the Real Estate Registration Project in Azerbaijan Malcolm Childress while speaking at the presentation of the e-registration system on Thursday.

According to him, the system "will become a fundamental element in the field of real estate registration, increase capacity and efficiency of public administration."

By Order #1/1-01 Agency’s chairman Inam Karimov approved the new Rules of evaluation of organization and provision of e-services of public organizations. The Rules began operating since 1 February.

Finance Ministry’s source says that the document has already submitted to the Cabinet Ministers. The document was signed by State Adviser on Economic Issues Vahid Akhundov.

Kamal Gurbanov, the head of the Central Bank’s Department of Payment Systems and Settlements, says that the new program implies expansion of use of advanced e-payment services.

The report says that last year Administration’s e-services were given mark “good” from the State Agency for Citizen Service & Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan.

"In 2013, through ARDDA special systems it was provided more than 10,000 navigation services," the report says.

According to the Ministry, at the meeting Deputy Communications & IT Minister Iltimas Mammadov focused on the benefits of E-Government system – removal of bureaucratic barriers, simplification of the order of consideration of citizens’ appeals, increasing the transparency of public administration, etc.

"The Ministry is ready to provide all possible support to state-run organizations in the connection to portal E-Government,” Mammadov said.

He said one of the ways to fight corruption is to increase the number of remote check-ups.

"The new software introduced by the Ministry to carry out desk audits, allowed us to increase more efficiency," Mr Mammadov said. He added the crackdown against corruption is in the ministry's focus.

According to the Centre, the proposals developed with taking into account international practices and the current situation in this area are aimed at assisting in the implementation of the President’s decree from 23 May 2011 providing organization of e-services.

In accordance with the amendments, the State Agency for Citizens Service and Social Innovations acting under the President of Azerbaijan was included into the list of authorities providing state e-services.

By Order #134-Q Commission’s chair Bahram Khalilov approved the administrative regulation of Commission’s e-services.

According to the data of the info system itself, through it business can get the services of the same four state institutions (Ministries of Taxes and of Economic Development, the State Customs Committee and the State Social Protection Fund), as in the previous quarter.