Belgium's Digital Agenda minister Alexander de Croo has launched a new plan for expanding the digital economy in Belgium. Croo said the government's 'Digital Belgium' plan aims to put the country in the top three of the EU's Digital Economy and Society Index by 2020. Belgium ranked fifth in the most recent version of the index, based mainly on data from 2014.
De Croo's plan include five priorities. The first aims to strengthen investment in digital infrastructure. This will include earlier announced plans aimed at making it easier to switch fixed network provider, as well as regulation aimed at making easier to roll out next-generation broadband infrastructure and to ensure a level playing field in the market.
The second pillar aims to increase confidence and security in the digital economy. This includes the recently launched Centre for Cyber Security and efforts to raise awareness about how to use online services safely. In addition, the minister promised a legal framework to fight illegal online content and the creation of an online dispute resolution framework.
To increase participation in the digital economy, the government plans to join hands with the private sector to work on improving digital skills through workshops and training programmes. The aim is to eliminate the digital divide and support the creation of 50,000 new jobs in ICT by 2020. De Croo said this also means increasing penetration of mobile internet, by making affordable smartphones, simple applications and sufficient data available to a broader public.
The plan also proposes a tax shelter for start-ups and fiscal incentives for supporting crowdfunding. The aim is to support 1,000 new start-ups in the country by 2020. To further promote the digital economy, De Croo said the government will work on ensuring a stable legal framework to support innovative business models and continue talks with industry on removing barriers to e-commerce. It will also promote the use of e-invoicing by making this mandatory for government suppliers from 2016.
The final priority is e-government and ensuring all communication with the government is possible through user-friendly digital channels by 2020. This will be supported by improvements to the main government web portal. In addition, an open data will be created to provide transparent access to public data. The government itself will also work on greater use of ICT to increase efficiency in public services, as well as exploiting new technologies such as social media and big data.
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Quelle/Source: telecompaper, 20.04.2015
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