EU aims to cut red tape for exporters: A new global trade technology project aims to help cut red tape for exporters. Researchers at UCD (University College Dublin) have signed up to take part in a study of how e-government systems can improve the exchange of tax and customs information between business and public administrations, while keeping tight control of security. The study is part of a EUR5.4 million project -- the EU's ITAIDE (Information Technology for Administration and Intelligent Design of E-Government) Project -- which hopes to ultimately cut costs for exporters, who face a large amount of paperwork and potential delays for containers. UCD researchers have been given EUR450,000 in funding for their involvement as part of a 16-member consortium of research partners from throughout Europe, the United Nations and tech firms such as IBM and SAP. For more on this story, see ElectricNews.net.
UK councils to get IT test lab: The UK's National Computing Centre (NCC) is partnering with Microsoft and Dell to create an IT proof-of-concept laboratory where local authorities can test-drive IT solutions. The centre, to be built at the NCC's Manchester office, will enable UK councils to test and assess new IT solutions, transfer knowledge and skills, and share IT best practice. The laboratory's aims are to help create cost and efficiency savings and to facilitate the transformation of local government business processes. The councils will be able to get independent advice from NCC consultants on the best applications and platforms to support them in their e-government efforts. "We believe local authorities, on average, can save up to 90 percent of their current IT management costs by optimising their infrastructure and managing it more effectively. A primary objective of the laboratory is to help them understand how," said Nigel Bates, the UK's head of Local and Regional Government.
Chinese politicians urged to set up blogs: China's lawmakers are being encouraged to set up and maintain blogs, or web logs. Delegates at the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) -- major political events in China -- can apply to start their own online journal, which will be hosted on the People's Daily website at blog.people.com.cn (available in Chinese). Although 5,000 deputies and committee members are eligible to post blogs, only eight have so far taken up the offer. "We hope such blogs will help the NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members to better communicate with the public," Tang Weihong, the manager of the blog site, told the People's Daily Online. "The public wants to know what the NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members are doing. Many deputies and members are also willing to tell the people about their work." The move is being seen as an effort by lawmakers to stay in touch with the electorate and to embrace a technology that is sweeping the country: it is estimated that around 16 million Chinese citizens have their own blog.
Morocco to roll out e-procurement system: The government of Morocco has agreed to roll out an e-procurement system, in partnership with the Italian government and non-profit body the Development Gateway Foundation. The project includes a new procurement management system and a national public tender website to increase access to government contract information. The objective of the system is to streamline public procurement processes, increase competitive bidding and save money for Moroccan taxpayers. Technical assistance and seed funding for the project will come from the Development Gateway's e-Government Grants Programme, which is a partnership with the government of Italy. The World Bank will provide additional funding. "We aim to reduce government contracting costs while helping small and mid-size Moroccan firms gain easier access to procurement opportunities," said Rachid Talbi El Alami, Morocco's minister delegate to the prime minister, in charge of general and economic affairs.
Hong Kong to launch one-stop-shop portal: The government of Hong Kong is about to revamp its e-government service offerings into a one-stop-shop web portal, reports Dutch newswire InfoWorld. The new portal will combine information currently contained on the Government Information Center website with around 200 services that are available on the e-government citizen services site ESDlife. The new portal will be rolled out in four stages. In the first stage, more than 100 public services will be made available online for the first time, including services from the Immigration Department, the Transport Department and the Inland Revenue Department. In stage two, 30 existing ESDlife services will be brought under the auspices of the portal site. Stages three and four will involve private-sector participation, anticipated by 2007, and a mature public private partnership (PPP), expected in 2008.
Autor: Sylvia Leatham
Quelle: ElectricNews, 15.03.2006
