Designing e-Government for the Poor - Tanzania Development ...

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Uzbekistan
Title: E-government
Proposer: Mr. Shukhrat Atamukhamedov, Assistant to Deputy Prime
Minister
Country: Uzbekistan
Date: March 2005
I. INTRODUCTION
In June 2002, the Government of Uzbekistan approved a National
ICT development programme. It established the Coordination Council for
development of Computerization and Information-Communication Technology.
The Government has adopted laws regulating informatization, digital
signature, electronic document flow, and e-commerce. The Government is
advocating the use and development of ICT. In August 2002, the Government
of Uzbekistan initiated an experimental implementation of a Unified
electronic information system of foreign trade operations. The implementation
of the present system that has involved the State Customs Committee,
Central Bank and authorized banks of Republic of Uzbekistan, State Tax
Committee, as well as the Agency of Foreign Economic Activities has
considerably simplified procedures regarding transit of goods and contract
fulfillments by entrepreneurs. The majority of central administration bodies
and regional administrations have their own web sites and local computer
network systems. Within the government administration office, there is one
computer per three government officials. However, only 10 per cent of
government officials have access to the Internet on their computer. A
significant number of central governmental administration offices as well as
local departments have implemented informatization programmes. Each
department develops and supports its own information system, and does not
interact with systems of other departments. Overall, the current status of
e-government in Uzbekistan is still in its initial stage and relatively
underdeveloped.
II. ISSUES
In order to introduce, implement, and sustain e-government
programmes, government must be reengineered and reorganized. This
requires a transformation of the relationship between government administration
and society. It is a complicated process requiring significant financial
expenses and presents numerous legal, administrative, and technological
issues. The leading obstacle to the expansion and distribution of ICT is
poverty. The majority of the population cannot afford access to electronic
technology. Therefore, electronic services should be provided to the population
at a very low rate. Another issue is the lack of awareness on the
benefits of ICT, and potential benefits of e-government programmes.