NEWS RELEASE

SEMINAR ON E-GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

JAKARTA, Sept. 10 – Efficiency and effectiveness of government and the enhancement of  public services can be achieved through greater use of information and communications technology (ICT), said experts at a seminar held today at the ASEAN Secretariat. The move, they said, will also contribute to a democratic process of government through greater communication, interaction and feedback from citizens.
 
Dr. Emmanuel Lallana, executive director of the e-Asean Task Force (eATF), an advisory body that promotes competency among member nations to enable them to compete in the age of global information, said ICT will facilitate greater public access to government services through online communications. He told participants at the ASEAN Seminar on E-Government Opportunities and Challenges today that the programme involves the delivery of services through the internet, wireless devices and other communication systems.
 
Dr. Lallana said: “There is a need for vision and planning by governments to formulate policies for information
technology development to promote greater accessibility to information by members of the public by providing online services that promote transparency and making governments more accountable to a well-informed citizenry.”
 
Addressing some 25 senior Indonesian government officials and private sector IT specialists at the day-long ICT seminar organized by the ASEAN Secretariat and the e-ASEAN Task Force (eATF), Dr. Lallana said the establishment of an electronic Government or e-Government will bring the government closer to the people through information, communication and transaction services like streamlining administrative procedures, public registers, documentation, databases and information processing, besides facilitating electronic payments and e-commerce.
 
He said information technology will integrate both local and national government, paving the way for an e-community and society. To achieve this, Dr. Lallana said infrastructure competency is needed to boost capacity and the level of connectivity within the government, industry and society.  Dr. Lallana cited Singapore as an example of a regional leader in e-Government that has invested heavily in ICT infrastructure. Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia, he said, are in the developmental stages and are making steady progress.
 
While ICT developments are underway, Dr. Lallana said more needs to be done to forge ahead in technological advancement and learning from one another’s experience is one way of moving forward in connectivity with the rest of the world.  He said e-Government will serve as a tool to promote economic development and good governance.
 
Awareness, acceptance, ability and application are the 4As that are essential for the growth of a technology-savvy society, according to Mr. Khoong Chan Meng, managing director of  Singapore Computer System (SCS) Foresight.
 
He said e-Government will improve industry competitiveness and the quality of life with the ease of  technological applications like tax-filing, registration and research online.
 
Mr. Khoong said the 20 years of ICT development in Singapore has enabled the country to keep abreast of the digital age. He said the government has employed information and communication technology to build up its capacity and capability for e-Government and innovation to deliver integrated electronic services.
 
In the case of Indonesia, it would require huge financial resources and telecommunications infrastructure to succeed in its national ICT plan, according to Mr. Djoko Agung, deputy assistant on e-Government development at the Ministry of Communication and Information.
 
“With very low telephone and mobile phone density rates and low internet penetration in the country due to the
expensive internet service charges affect public accessibility to ICT, while financial constraints faced by the government impact on its capacity to  develop the industry,” said Mr. Djoko.
 
But he noted that the Indonesian government is proceeding in preparatory phases to establish an e-Government in the long term to promote economic and social progress.
 
“It would be great to have connectivity among all the islands in our archipelago through the e-Government initiative,” said seminar participant, Mr. Suprayitno, a systems analyst at the State Secretariat. “We can improve efficiency.”
 
“I’m interested in greater access to information and networking for my infocomm business and I hope that the government can develop more initiatives to enable us to link up with other businesses and industries in the region by improving our e-readiness capability,” said Mr. Hilman Sulaiman, president of Sinergy Group.
 
“The e-Asean Task Force can help to enlighten us and facilitate networking among industry experts and ICT professionals at these seminars so that we can exchange views and develop linkages to bridge the development gap,” he added.
 

Issued By:

GERALDINE GOH

Senior Officer

Public Information

ASEAN SECRETARIAT

Tel: (6221) 724-3372 or 726-2991 ext 245

Fax: (6221) 739-8234 or 724-3504

Email: [email protected]

Media Liaison/Enquiries:

INDRISTUTI

Technical Assistant

Tel: (6221) 724-3372 or 726-2991 ext 247

Fax: (6221) 739-8234 or 724-3504

Email: [email protected]

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