Big potential of digital economy – New governmental project totaling EUR 30 m underway

Digital economy is the field with the great potential and which generates millions of new vacancies, it has been said today at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce in a dialogue with businessmen, "You have the word-be a part of solution".

It was outlined that the export of IT and communications –oriented companies totaled EUR 225 m last year and that their potential should be used more efficiently for further development of competitiveness of both the state and SMEs.

It was estimated that the opening of Chapter 10 in the EU integrations which refer to information and media is a good sign for Serbia and that it is up to us how we will use provided options.

It was presented that only one third of IT market goes on software and that trade and governmental authorities do not use new technologies as EU member states.

Therefore, it is necessary to boost the IT technology productivity level which can be carried out through adequate legal framework which will facilitate easier import of research and development devices, simplify components import procedures, along with creating conditions to use domestic local solutions more.

It was said that larger number of people should be educated and that experts should be profiled in line with employers’ needs keeping pace with world trends and achievements.

President of the Managing Boar at RATEL, Jovan Radunovic, agreed that to change of legislation with respect to certificates which was also supported by the representatives of the Ministry of trade, tourism and telecommunications, stating that in the near future, i.e. in EU integration process, a good opportunity for change of the existing normative legislation. Representatives of the resource ministry announced a new project in creating unique state institution which would , in the first stage, guarantee implementation of a unique network and then entire infrastructure.

The base for the project already exists as 5.000 km of optical cables. New state-owned company will manage connection of large state-owned systems such as EPS, railways and customs and then legislation, health, education and local self-governance. The entire process should end in there years with investment of some EUR 30 m.