The Digital Media Center confirmed today, Wednesday, that the government’s semi-annual report is a correct step towards e-government.
The Center stated in a statement, “The semi-annual report on the implementation of the government program included many important steps that will contribute to adopting digitization and taking important steps towards e-government, which has become a necessity required by the current era, and not just a luxury or theoretical procedures.”
It stressed, “The Iraqi government announced the completion of the digital transformation project for the General Company for Communications and Informatics, and the completion of the trial operation of the project to repel cyber-attacks, which will pave the way for building a virtual line of defense that can repel attacks against the digital system.”
The center indicated, “The government has initiated procedures for digital transformation and automation of citizens’ transactions in government departments, to close outlets for corruption and facilitate procedures related to citizens.
In the field of addressing issues related to the social protection sector, the center stated, “The government has launched the electronic (Madhalati – my umbrella-) service for groups benefiting from social protection, which is an important step to identify those who are unworthy of state funds, through a tight electronic system that is not subject to any influences or temperaments that deviate from its course of action.
It indicated that the single window system has also been applied in registering companies, and a “specialized audit committee has been formed to review the commissions” collected by all electronic payment companies, and more than 85% of Iraqi trade is conducted through the electronic platform and complies with international standards, a step that the center welcomes, and will contribute to promoting the work of the private sector with ease and transparency, away from bureaucracy and routine procedures.
It stressed, “The presence of correct steps for the governance of government departments, especially those of a service nature, will enhance the reduction of friction between auditors and state employees, just as government resources through customs and after implementing a comprehensive system of customs automation for the first time with self-efforts, is also a step that enhances state resources and control of money and the elimination of smuggling and other operations.
Accordingly, the Digital Media Center (DMC) emphasizes a number of issues:
First – The Iraqi government has taken important measures in strengthening digital governance in the country, which is the goal that the Center has been seeking to achieve and advocated for many years.
Second – The process of digital transformation necessitates the presence of advanced infrastructure commensurate with the rapid growth in communications technology.
Third – Iraq still relies in its legislative environment on laws that are not commensurate with the technical world, in addition to Iraq’s need for new legislation, the most important of which are the legislation related to combating information technology crimes, as well as the law on the protection of personal data.
Fourth – The need to pay great attention to the national strategy for cyber security, which was approved some time ago, as well as to maintain it from time to time in order to keep up with the criminal technical development and to confront the attacks by adopting a technical effort that goes along with the great effort made by the criminal authorities.
Fifth – Departments and their managers must be obligated and followed up to adopt the transformation of digitization, as there is no doubt that some of these government institutions are still thinking with a traditional mentality and trying to evade government procedures related to governance.
Sixth – Government leaders’ awareness of the importance of technology in the modern era and the role of digitization in the work of the various aspects of life will contribute to the success and acceleration of the steps of the digital transformation process.
Seventh – The necessity of having a central institution or committee specialized in the digital transformation process in Iraq, which is responsible for drawing a map of this transformation, assessing its level, and following its steps.
Eighth – the importance of benefiting from the experiences of developed countries in this field, and the measures taken in this regard, taking into account the specificity of Iraqi society.
Ninth – There must be human cadres capable of managing the digital transformation in the country, in addition to having the capabilities necessary to keep pace with the successive leaps in the digital age.
Tenth – The center urges the adoption of specific indicators to measure the progress of digital development in various institutions, and on the basis of which the success of this or that institution is evaluated.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency