On Tuesday 12 December, the Cabinet of Ministers reviewed the Plan for Implementation of the Digital Transformation Guidelines for 2021-2027 prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development for next four years. The plan defines and summarises all public administration activities related to digital transformation of the economy.
According to Inga Bērziņa, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, “The objective defined in the Digital Transformation Guidelines for 2021-2027 is to develop a society, economy and public administration that make a targeted use of existing and emerging opportunities of digital technologies as well as the environment they provide. This improves the quality of life of every individual and society as a whole, increasing the competitiveness of the state and the economy.”
Given that digital transformation covers all sectors, the measures of the plan are subordinate to five development areas that will directly contribute to economic transformation and digital growth of society.
Digital skills and education is one area of development. The plan includes the activities that will contribute to the development of digital skills of society in the educational process, including among teachers and heads of educational institutions. In order to foster the development of digital skills in society, from basic to advanced skills, a mechanism will be set up to coordinate digital upskilling initiatives for different target groups – adults, seniors, job-seekers, health sector practitioners, public and private sector service providers, etc.
Digital security and trustworthiness are another area of development included in the plan with the aim of ensuring that citizens and businesses in Latvia feel safe and protected in the digital space, and concerns about security do not hamper the development and use of digital services. It is therefore planned to strengthen cyber defence capabilities, support public and private stakeholders dealing with cybersecurity issues by providing guidelines on how line ministries carry out sector-specific cybersecurity risk analysis and ensure cooperation to update them in the sector, as well as support tools to strengthen cyber defence of economic operators. In addition, electronic identity services for citizens, consumer protection in the digital environment and protection of internet users against harmful content will also be developed.
The availability of telecommunications and computing is the third direction of development of digital transformation. Public administration is committed to working to make electronic communication services available in the amount and quality required for innovation, economy and household needs, providing a platform for new technological leap in society’s digital transformation. It is planned to invest in ‘last mile’ communication, the development of next generation communications, as well as the mapping of network infrastructure, the promotion of infrastructure sharing.
Digital transformation of the economy (incl., public administration) is the fourth area of development included in the plan. The development direction contains the measures to create service platforms, ensure the availability of high-value data and efficient data management. In addition, the plan covers public security, order and justice, incl. ensuring the digital transformation of law enforcement proceedings, as well as a number of activities are planned to modernise the public administration.
It is planned to strengthen the private sector by promoting the digital transformation of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship as a whole. It is intended to enhance digital skills of entrepreneurs, provide access to various technologies, support programmes for the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the development of new digital products and services. In addition, it is planned to ensure access to high-quality open national data, facilitate communication with state and local government institutions and receive services.
Innovation in ICT industry and ICT science is the fifth direction of development aimed at ensuring the transfer of systemic digital innovations in sectors of the economy, especially in the priority areas, as well as to proactively promote the integration of the Latvian ICT industry into international supply chains. Activities are included in sectors such as the development of human resources and infrastructure to foster digital innovation, the promotion of smart cities, smart mobility.
The plan was developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development in cooperation with other responsible ministries, incl. also the non-governmental sector.
The measures set forth in the plan will be implemented mainly from the European Union funds, as well as the state budget funding. The Cabinet of Ministers will review the allocation of the State budget funding for the implementation of measures in 2025 and beyond during the drafting and consideration of the draft law on the annual State budget together with proposals submitted by all ministries and central government institutions for priority measures in line with the financial resources of the state budget.
