ICT companies are given the opportunity to get involved in a new Government project, the so-called concept of open e-services, based on public-private partnership. Development of e-services offered by state institutions should enable citizens with faster access to them.

Minister of Information Society and Public Administration Ivo Ivanovski presented Thursday the project's benefits before members of the ICT Chamber within the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce.

"Registers owned by state institutions, citizens' databases, through standards, protocols, licencing, model to be developed in the next four years should all allow companies that show interest and capability to develop e-services to invest in them and re-sell services to citizens through predetermined prices", said Ivanovski after the meeting.

These are 138 services and 60 documents given by government institutions, registry administration, funds for health, pension and disability insurance, Public Revenue Office, Real Estate Cadastre Agency, Central Registry etc.

According to Ivanovski, the private sector could develop and invest in services through its participation in the project.

"When companies get a reference they have developed such a service for the government, they can easily conquer the regional market and beyond. On the other hand, citizens will obtain more services because they will be available in an electronic way, whereas the Government, which is the information owner, can sell them to the private sector for a symbolic amount to be determined", said the Minister.

The concept is still in a development stage and will be made operational through the new law on public-private partnership.

"The institution will license serious companies, since it involves citizens' data. We expect that Macedonia will again emerge as a leader of a new concept, the so-called open e-services, not only in the region, but also in EU countries", underlined Ivanovski.

The ICT Chamber believes that the project is a revolutionary step, opening possibilities for development in all areas where public-private partnership is possible.

"Thus far we have focused on several areas where public-private partnership could be implemented, and this Government project opens all fields", stressed ICT Chamber representative Sasa Ognenovski.