Nikolay Vassilev, CFA Minister of State Administration and Administrative Reform Republic of Bulgaria Nikolay Vassilev, CFA Minister of State Administration and Administrative Reform Republic of Bulgaria 9 November 2006 Brussels 9 November 2006 Brussels “e-Governance” – Bulgarian Challenge 2006

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 2 With our Face to the People

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 3 The Bulgarian traditions in the IT sector Third in Europe and eight worldwide in IT specialists per capita 110 Cisco academies in 26 towns and cities Annually: –More than 5,000 students graduating in computer science –Another 5,000 graduating in engineering science “…With more than 9,000 IT certificates Bulgaria stands in the Top 10 in absolute number of experts in the world…” (Brainbench) Team champion in Tokyo Math Olympics 2003 and 2 gold and 4 silver medals in Mexico Math Olympics 2005

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 4 R&D capacity (1) Over 1,000 small and medium sized IT enterprises Traditions (35 years of experience) in the area Very well developed educational system in electronics, engineering and computer sciences Over 100 ICT companies certified under the ISO companies certified under the ISO More than 80% of Bulgarian software companies’ revenues result from contracts with European and US partners Bulgarian IT companies successfully implement EU projects in consortiа with European IT companies

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 5 R&D capacity (2) Investments in R&D (2000 = EUR 100 mln) Source: Co-ordination Council for Information Society Report, 2006

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 6 Tax measures undertaken by the Bulgarian Government –Taxes in Bulgaria – among the lowest in Europe Corporate tax –Currently 15%, 10% for 2007 – the lowest rate in Europe –Fast depreciation rates: 2 years for computers, 3 1/3 years for equipment Personal income tax –Highest rate at 24% in 2005 and 2006, compared to 38% in 2001 –Rates of 0, 20, 22 and 24% in 2006 Software exports – VAT exempted Improved IT environment

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 7 Corporate tax rate Source: Corporate Tax Law

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 8 Internet penetration dynamics Source: Co-ordination Council for Information Society Report, 2006

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 9 Broadband market dynamics Source: Co-ordination Council for Information Society Report, 2006

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 10 e-Government status, June 2006 (1) Internet connectivity – Central administration

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 11 e-Government status (2) Desktop computer systems in the SA Sept

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 12 Indicative services of e-Government, 2006 Source: Co-ordination council for information society report’ 2006 Implementation of the 20 indicative services of e-Government, %

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 13 Good practice in the IT sector i-Bulgaria initiative 1.i-Center 2.i-University 3.i-Class 4.i-Net i-Bulgaria initiative 1.i-Center 2.i-University 3.i-Class 4.i-Net

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 14 i-Bulgaria initiative Launched in April 2004 Acceleration of the wide penetration and use of ICT Development of digital content and services delivered via the Internet Development of the information infrastructure Access to PCs and Internet for all social groups

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 15 i-Centers networkNov i-Centers opened i-Centers equipment Workstations ,000 Servers i-Bulgaria initiative: i-Center Establishing information telecenters all across Bulgaria Providing cheap access, ICT training and e-services to citizens

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 16 i-University network i-University labs opened i-University equipment Workstations1,4861,950 Servers i-Bulgaria initiative: i-University Establishing high-tech laboratories for online education in all Bulgarian universities and scientific institutes Creating distance education courses in all major disciplines Building a nationally recognized educational portal for high education – Bulgarian Virtual University

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 17 i-Class networkNov i-Classes opened503,200 i-Class equipment Present Workstations 7,51137,51142,000 Servers 7503, i-Bulgaria initiative: i-Class Equipping secondary schools with computers and high-speed access to Internet Implementing ICT in the education process – training, usage, etc.

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 18 i-Net infrastructureNov 2004Present Connected organizations65880 i-Net users2004Present Students120,000650,000 Researchers and teachers11,00070, i-Bulgaria initiative: i-Net Connecting all universities and research departments into a single high-speed Internet network Establishing links with Pan-European network initiatives – GÉANT

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 19 CMMi certificationsNov Sept 2006 IT professionals Software companies i-Bulgaria initiative: Establishing a regional center of the European Software Institute Transfer of software technology, certification of software professionals and companies

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 20 e-Government projects, Legislation 2.Backbone projects 3.Hardware 4.Agreements with Microsoft 5.e-Signatures 6.IT training in the SA 1.Legislation 2.Backbone projects 3.Hardware 4.Agreements with Microsoft 5.e-Signatures 6.IT training in the SA

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 21 e-Government Modern work method of the state administration (SA) by using information and communication technology Transparency, services accessibility, reduction of the time spent Publicity and access to e-services for all social groups Development of the regulatory framework E-content – portals, websites, document flow management and e-services software Interoperability of the information systems and integration with the European systems

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform Legislation Law on e-Trade (adopted in June 2006) –Governing the information society services –Upgrading the quality of e-services Law on e-Governance (passed by the Government in October 2006) –Single provision and multiple usage of customer data –Introducing an obligation for administrations to communicate electronically –Setting standards for interoperability Bulgarian national framework for interoperability (adopted in June 2006)

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform Backbone of e-Government – the challenge of 2006 (1) Development of a Centralized e-Government Integration System –National e-services portal: customers do not need to know who offers which services –Centralized services for the identification of citizens and businesses –Centralized e-payment –Unified inter-departmental exchange of e-documents –Full online description of all administrative services –All administrative forms on-line

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform Backbone of e-Government – the challenge of 2006 (2) Development of a Pilot Integration System of the e-Region (regional and local administrations) –Integration of the information systems on the local and regional level –Template of a local government portal – integration with local services –Template of a municipality portal – integration with municipal services –Integration in the Centralized System of e-Government

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform Hardware Distribution of 1,500 computers and 300 servers to all local and regional administrations. Plans for 500 more Technical equipment for 50 small local administrations –Engineering of processes –Development of e-document flow systems –Delivery of modern computers and terminal devices

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform Microsoft and the Bulgarian state administration Total 30,000+18,000+12,00060,000 Microsoft XP and Office pack Microsoft Server Std Total 1,000+2,0003,000

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform e-Signatures 2 providers in providers in 2006 Year July 2006 Subscribers 1,2003,00015,000 Average price (EUR) ,150 e-signatures provided to central, regional and local administrations

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform IT training in the SA A total number of 21,000 in 2006, including 1,000 magistrates Plans for 2007 – another 21,000 SA employees to be trained Special training for IT officers from the central and regional administrations for active participation in the e-Government backbone projects

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 29 Plans for 2007 Further upgrade of the Centralized e-Government System Additional implementation of the pilot system in 25 regions Development of an e-Card for the needs of the civil service (ID, e-signatures, PKI) Reengineering of the paper document flow in the administration (internally and inter-administrative)

Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform 30 With our Face to the People