Cyprus is committed to the implementation of electronic government services, using digital technology for public administration and the integration between citizens and the government.
According to President Nicos Anastasiades, the Digital Strategy has been introduced in 2012 in Cyprus, and during its years of action, more than 19 strategic projects and 28 e-governance projects have been approved and implemented with the purpose of reforming and modernising public service, with an approximate budget of € 250 million.
Some of the projects for digitisation are: Health Information System, e-Justice, the new information system of the Tax Department and the Department of the Registrar of Companies, as well as Cyta Telecom’s 5G network project, President Anastasiades said during his speech at the 92. Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CCCI.
Implementation of digitisation reforms and strategic projects will be taken over by a Deputy Ministry for Research and Innovation, which will be established next year, Anastasiades continued.
Electronic government enables effective, safe, convenient interaction between the government and the citizens. An electronic government infrastructure can accelerate development of information and communication technology and creates fundamental changes to the government systems as well as document management and processes.
There are several technological solutions for e-governance which are different in data safety degree, reliability and speed. One the most effective technologies focused on is Blockchain technology.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology stores all transactions and interactions by creating interlinks and codes. It utilizes a distributed data base to verify each transaction.
In the context of electronic government, all data and interactions between citizens and government agencies will be recorded and kept safe. Once a transaction has been verified and added to the Blockchain, it cannot be changed or removed so it acts as a control system to prevent any possible corruption and similar activities.
Some of the main characteristics of the Blockchain technology are as follows:
- Blockchain technology is safe by using sophisticated mathematical test and innovative software rules that are very difficult for attackers to manipulate. Each time a transaction submitted by someone to the ledger, the nodes check for validity of the transaction.
- Blockchain is autonomous and there is no agency or central place to administer it or to be able to apply any correction to the data.
- Blockchain’s operation is continuous and will be updated automatically. Even if most of the computers go off-line, as soon as they connect to the net, data will be updated.
Many countries are using blockchain technology for different purposes such as storage of health care data, pension systems, registration of assets, registering contracts between buyer and seller, social protection, etc. It can secure reliable elections and vote counting, promote transparency of the national budgets, conduct auctions, enable investors to monitor their projects and can be used in e-commerce and banking sector and many more areas.
Integration of blockchain-based technology in the electronic governance system, will increase effectiveness of the government, reduce cost of transactions, make procedures simpler and quicker, enable effective interaction between citizens and the government, increase trust and create healthier economy.
To read our previous article about Blockchain technology in Cyprus, please click here.