MINSK, 1 June (BelTA) – The state is interested in the accelerated development of the information technology industry. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko made the statement during the opening of the 27th international forum on information and communication technologies TIBO 2021 on 1 June, BelTA has learned.
Roman Golovchenko said: “The state is interested in the accelerated development of the IT sphere, in the integration of state administration processes with the latest technological solutions. The government and government bodies will always provide maximum support in this sphere.”
In his words, the speed of mastering new technologies is the basis of economic development. It gives massive advantages at the international level. “Information technologies and the pace of their assimilation into conventional processes are these advantages nowadays. The advance of technologies allows securing a new quality of life for the people, provides a large volume of opportunities, and represents the basis for transforming the economy and the state administration system. Identifying this direction as a top priority, Belarus has created a reliable infrastructure foundation for digital changes. Fourth-generation cellular service (4G) in Belarus is available on a territory where nearly 90% of the population lives. Fiber optic communication lines have been built to all the populated localities of 100 households and more. Belarus is one of Europe's leaders in terms of fiber optic cables to households. This work has placed Belarus at the 32nd position in the International Telecommunication Union's rating that measures the development of information and communication technologies. It is the best figure in the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the prime minister explained.
Belarus has achieved significant results in the development of digital government technologies. Citizens will be able to feel the convenience of suggested solutions in practice soon. “One can feel and see them at this expo today. First of all, I am talking about biometric personal identification documents – ID cards – which the government will start issuing on 1 September 2021. Thanks to these cards interaction between businesses and the government will be greatly simplified. Bureaucratic requirements for providing state services will be reduced. In essence, it is a new stage in the development of digital technologies in the country with transition to new standards in services available to the population,” he added.
Roman Golovchenko continued: “We don't intend to stop. Our near-future tasks include the introduction of the fifth-generation communication technologies, a mobile digital signature, the broader introduction of smart city technologies, the development of digital education, digital healthcare, and a number of other technologies. Recognizing the importance of digital transformation of the economy, we traditionally enable conditions for organizing a dialogue of all those interested in the development of the IT sphere, including by organizing this forum upon the government's initiative. The forum offers an opportunity to sum up results of the work, present results of digital development, find new partners and clients, and work out new interesting ideas.”
The TIBO 2021 forum is scheduled to take place in the Minsk Arena complex on 1-4 June. Taking part in it are the largest Belarusian and foreign manufacturers of telecommunication equipment, hardware and software, mobile carriers and wired Internet service providers, developers and vendors of high-technology products, security systems, smart solutions, and services for the consumer market and the corporate sector. Over 100 organizations from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, Russia, Uzbekistan, and other countries are taking part in the forum this year.
The exposition "Belarus - the country of digital opportunities” occupies the central place at the forum. The central exposition features R&D products of government agencies and Belarusian IT companies and their possible applications. The exhibition includes thematic zones such as "Digital opportunities for the state and the citizen," "Digital opportunities for living in a modern city (Smart City)," "Digital business opportunities," and "Digital opportunities for everyone".
Next to booths of individual companies stand collective stands of the Education Ministry, the Industry Ministry, the State Science and Technology Committee, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk City Technopark, St Petersburg Export Support Center as well as the special sections “Educational alley”, “The arena of innovations”, “100 ideas for Belarus”.
TIBO 2021's intensive business program comprises 30 events, including the 3rd Eurasian Digital Forum, the 4th Belarusian ICT Summit, the Digital Economy Forum, the International Telecommunication Union workshop “5G (IMT-2020) networks launch and operation experience”, and other events.
Results of the TIBO 2021 Internet Award and the Belarus ICT Startup Award, the national round of the 5th international Scratch Creative Programming Olympiad for school students will be summed up on the sidelines of TIBO 2021.
The TIBO 2021 forum has been organized by the Communications and Informatization Ministry with assistance of representatives of the state, the private sector, the professional and scientific communities, and international experts.
