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Cyprus is "missing wave after wave" of tech revolutions
eGovernement would transfrorm business

By Fiona Mullen from "Financial Mirror"
25 May 2005

 

Cyprus has missed several technology revolutions in the past few years, and is already in danger of missing the next big wave that could boost productivity right across the economy, according to Microsoft's Country Manager in Cyprus, George Lakkotrypis.

"Cyprus is missing wave after wave," he told the Financial Mirror.

The first big wave that passed the island by was eCommerce. It began to take  off in the late 1990s and, according to Forrester Research, in Europe alone it is now worth an estimated EUR 40 bln and is expected to reach EUR 167 bln by 2009.

"How many companies in Cyprus sell over the internet?" asks Lakkotrypis.

"We have missed the eCommerce wave and if we don't act quickly we will also miss the eGovernment wave."

Missing the  eGovernment wave is perhaps even more serious, because if we "ride" it properly, it can act as a catalyst for the whole economy, affecting citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, big companies and large government organisations.

The recently launched eService, allowing citizens to file income tax returns online, called Taxisnet, is the exception rather than the rule in Cyprus.

"Imagine an eService for every 'traditional' service that the government offers like issuing birth certificates, renewing road tax, filing VAT," said Lakkotrypis.

eGovernment transforms business

As en example of how eGovernment can transform business, Lakkotrypis cites the Catalonia municipalities in the autonomous region of Spain, which provide about 200 services through multiple delivery channels, including mobile and interactive television.

"All the municipalities created and are shareholders in a company called .Cat. .Cat is charged with providing eServices to citizens," said Lakkotrypis.

Not only does this eGovernment ecosystem bring about efficiency and productivity gains for the government and more integrated services to citizens, it also draws in enterprises of all sizes.

For example, information on how to set up a business does not stop at the legal requirements. There are also sections and links on how to find premises, get electricity, phone or ISDN lines, and so on--essentially answering to all the day-to-day questions of a business.

This is where the .Cat service really makes a difference. Companies that provide services for businesses are given an incentive to link up to the .Cat system, which in turn helps them transform themselves into a fully fledged eBusiness.

Expanding the market reach of SMEs

"eGovernment can also help SMEs expand their market reach," said Lakkotrypis.

This is why it is so important that Cyprus, having missed the first opportunity for eCommerce, does not miss this wave too.

"eGovernment would be an enabler for eBusiness. I believe that the future of small and medium-sized enterprises in Cyprus, if they are to grow, is outside our small geographic boundaries. The role of the government is to facilitate them to go outside and one way to do so is online presence. At the end of the day, on the internet, nobody knows how small you are," he said. 

Digital inclusion

eGovernment also encourages citizens to be connected. Connecting and educating citizens is also an important part of Microsoft's Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

"We are in the final stages of announcing a project for digital inclusion which falls under our international programme called Unlimited Potential," said Lakkotrypis.

One part of the project, which will be done in conjunction with NGOs, involves sending a mobile unit, equipped with computers, projectors and other equipment, to areas where there is no easy access to technology.

"For example, the mobile unit can sit in a village for a week and help young women enhance their computer skills which in turn could enable them to find better jobs," he said.

Another part of Microsoft's Corporate Social Responsibility Programme is called Partners in Learning. In co-operation with ministries of education around the world, Microsoft provides funds for teacher training and online curricula for promoting ICT learning in primary and secondary schools. "The Ministry of Education here is currently evaluating our proposal," said Lakkotrypis.

Microsoft also invests a significant amount in technology centres throughout Europe.

Handling online predators

Microsoft is also trying to improve children's safety on the internet. "We are aiming at circulating a booklet to reach each household in Cyprus explaining in simple terms how to protect your child from the risks of being online," said Lakkotrypis.

This will include tips on how to monitor what your child is doing on the internet, how to talk to them about the risks of predators, and information, based on Microsoft research, about the kinds of activities different age groups undertake on the internet--starting at the tender age group of two to four years old.

Continuing focus on productivity

As well as its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Microsoft continues to invest heavily in improving productivity in the workplace.

This was the main focus of its recent event, Momentum 2005, targeted at IT professionals and software developers.

By Fiona Mullen, Financial Mirror, 25 May 2005

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