On July 3, a working debate was held in the NA Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration on the topic of “Prospects for the development of digital technologies and digital economy in the EEU member states, in the context of encouraging global markets, digital transformation of the public administration sector, improvement of digital infrastructures, and business models created on a digital basis.”
According to the Deputy Chair of the Committee Vagharshak Hakobyan, the representatives of the sector, the members of the Government, and the experts took part in the debate. In particular, issues regarding digitization processes, modernization of document circulation systems in state bodies were debated.
The RA Minister of High-Tech Industry Robert Khachatryan stated that in 2021 the RA digitization strategy was adopted for the next five years. The strategy was developed by the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, and it is the main executor. As a result of some debates, it was decided to create an Information Systems Management Council, and digitization processes were transferred to the Council. Decisions are made by the Council as a result of debates, the Head of which is the RA Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.
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“Currently, the Ministry also plays a very important role in the digitization process. Some amendments are currently being implemented to align the strategy with the activity format we have in the form of the Digitization Council,” the Minister said, adding that each Ministry has its own functions in this regard. The First RA Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Gevorg Mantashyan, the Director of the Information Systems Agency of Armenia (IRS) Nerses Yeritsyan, as well as the other participants presented the MPs with details of digitization processes, in particular, the Mulberry document circulation system, having a similar more modern system. It was noted that the Mulberry system created about 15 years ago is already outdated and a new one is needed. Within the framework of the strategy, 19 measures are designed, which are in process, and today it is estimated how much money the state spends on that system.
The MPs also inquired about the security systems, particularly, the work being done in relation to the installation of cameras, the modernization of the Mulberry system.
Some of the participants of the debate opined that digitization systems were implemented in various bodies, which made people’s lives more difficult rather than easier. This refers to medical institutions, educational institutions, and the road police. In response to this point of view, the MP Khachatur Sukiasyan emphasized the digitization process, underlining educating the public.
The working debate was held in open and closed formats.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia