Opinions & Interviews

PM: IT sector is Belarus’ development priority

Sergei Rumas

MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) – The IT sector is a national development priority for Belarus, Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said at a plenary session of the forum Digital Future of Global Economy in Almaty on 31 January, BelTA has learned.

“Setting an ambitious goal to develop an IT country, we have accepted the challenge to rebuild the economy and digitize it,” Sergei Rumas said. “Having defined the IT sector as a national development priority, the state has formed necessary starting conditions. Belarus has developed necessary infrastructure for data transmission, storage and processing, identification mechanisms, and modern means of information protection,” Sergei Rumas added.

One of the key projects in this area was the development of the National Data Processing Center. “The center has been certified to international standards and provides the highest level of security and fault tolerance. More than 400 government agencies and organizations have already carried out a phased transition to the use of the National Data Processing Center and the cloud platform,” the prime minister said.

Sergei Rumas named a software and hardware complex for accounting tax invoices among the projects already implemented in Belarus. The move made it possible to introduce electronic invoices to replace the paper ones all over the country and introduce a state system for their processing, storage, transfer and receipt. A single automated electronic prescription system has been launched for the country’s Healthcare Ministry. This solution provides unified secure access to the databases of the Healthcare Ministry from anywhere in Belarus, which reduces costs and accelerates IT implementation in healthcare. The system of interdepartmental electronic document flow helps the government agencies secure the exchange of electronic messages between all government agencies and organizations on a single platform.

“It should be noted that the introduction of the electronic document flow throughout the country is a unique experience, and we are among the leaders here,” the prime minister said. “One of the most important projects we are working on today is to develop a national integration reference and accounting system. This is a key stage in digital transformation, which will help us start issuing biometric passports (ID-cards and e-passports) and will ensure a free access to the e-government services in the 24/7 mode.”

Sergei Rumas also spoke about the successes of the Hi-Tech Park. “Our results and achievements in the IT sector cannot be yet compared to those of the world leaders. However, we have also achieved success in some areas. Our Hi-Tech Park, set up with the personal support of the president, has become a regional center of attraction for the best talents and minds in Eastern Europe. It is the fastest growing sector of the Belarusian economy. Last year's exports amounted to $2 billion, although three years ago it did not exceed a fourth of that amount. Over the past two years, the number of its residents has grown to approach 800. This gives us optimism for the future,” he added.

Belarus’ Prime Minister Sergei Rumas is on a working visit to Kazakhstan on 30-31 January. The Belarusian head of government is expected to take part in a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Almaty on 31 January.

On 1 January Belarus assumed presidency in the bodies of the Eurasian Economic Council.

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