2. The World Wide Web at the service of small business p. 2
ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 40
service suppliers. The idea is to relieve small and medium enterprises from adminis-
trative burdens and to improve their access to information and qualified staff. In the
end, the final consequence should be an increased attractiveness of rural areas as
places in which to live, work and invest.
Remote regions made attractive for business
In Belarus – as in many other countries – companies and their customers face a lot of
problems when they try to start up and develop their own business. This is why the
Strategy for Developing Information Society was adopted by the Belarusian govern-
N Michael Doroshevich ment: for authorities, the establishment of an e-government is today a priority, and
that is where the EGOPRISE project comes in as an important instrument to bring
this concept into life.
Igor Gancharyonok, Deputy Rector for Studies at the Academy of Public Administra-
tion – the EGOPRISE local partner – says the aims of the project are best expressed
by the famous Belarusian motto ‘The State is there for the people’. “We addressed
“It is not enough the development of small and medium business in the region – he says – and in this
to provide sector, the emphasis was put on rural districts. It is international cooperation in this
enterprises with field that enables us to optimize procedures, to attract labour and to make remote
information, or regions attractive for business,” Ganchryonok notes.
an opportunity The idea of an e-government was suggested as early as the mid-nineties. It was at N Igor Gancharyonok
to pay taxes, via that time that experts started discussing means to provide electronic information
an electronic and public services for individuals and legal entities, using information technolo-
system. It is also gies. However, even now many experts think that only Singapore and Estonia have
necessary to be an e-government that is up to the mark.
aware of their “Even today, we think of an e-government as a way of managing public administra-
opinions, to tion as a whole in an information-oriented society,” says Gancharyonock. “But the
understand what e-government concept is about changing the principles of public administration: it
they need and is an opportunity to transform it.”
want”
An opportunity to transform public administration
Implementing EGOPRISE requires quite a lot of effort. In an initial phase, the idea is
to identify the weak points in the flow of public information. Then procedures will
be suggested to improve these information flows through technical instruments.
Besides, a multi-language Internet resource is going to be developed for business
registration, to enable businessmen to start new businesses in partner countries “E-government is
without leaving their own offices. a tool to improve
N The idea of an The project will help create computer interfaces to enable users to obtain informa- the quality of
e-government was suggested tion relevant to their interests. For instance, each Executive committee in Belarus
as early as the mid-nineties.
services provided
E-governements enable to has its own website. Information from these sites should be more readily available by public
optimize procedures and to to end users. How? For example, an advertisement is put up about a new service
make remote regions more authorities
attractive for business. provided by the regional executive committee, offering a new benefit or new jobs. for small and
This information should not only “hang” on medium-sized
the site, but it should be loaded into the enterprises”
electronic system that is available to all en-
trepreneurs. Only in this case will it appear
on every user’s screen.
Attracting employers and
employees from other countries
Not only does EGOPRISE improve work-
flows and develop interoperable e-govern-
ment solutions; it also aims at simplifying
3. The World Wide Web at the service of small business p. 3
ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 40
the employment process of (foreign) labour for small and medium sized enterprises.
In fact, the international nature of the project makes it possible to attract potential “Our task is to
employers and employees from other countries. “So far the idea of a labour force train competent
operating across the borders has not been very popular in Belarus – continues and highly
Gancharyonok -but this is a common practice in Europe. And we will have to attract qualified
human resources to regions where there is a shortage of workers.” administrators.
“We study the European experience and try to get it across to our state officials,” The more Belarus
continues Gancharyonok, adding that the EGOPRISE project offers a unique chance takes part in such
for both Academy teaching staff and students, among whom are state officials and projects, the more
entrepreneurs from different Belarusian regions. it will benefit”
“Our task is to train competent and highly quali-
fied administrators,” concludes Gancharyonok.
Michael Doroshevich shares his view. “The more
Belarus takes part in such projects, the more it
will benefit,” he says.
N The e-government concept is about changing
the principles of public administration.
Egoprise
The overall aim of Egoprise is to turn public administrations in rural Baltic Sea
Region areas to more business oriented service suppliers, to relieve small &
medium enterprises from administrative burdens, to improve their access to
information & qualified staff and as a consequence to increase attractiveness of
rural areas as places to live, work & invest in.
www.egoprise.eu
Participating countries Objective
Latvia, Estonia, Egoprise improves workflows & develops interoperable e-gov. solutions in order to: make public
Lituania, Belarus, administrations more service oriented for enterprises; to simplify the employment process of (foreign)
Finland, Germany, labour for small and medium enterprises; to provide easier entrance into public & business networks for
Sweden, Denmark. such enterprises.
Timeframe Find out more
2009-2013 Project information http://eu.baltic.net/Project_Database.5308.html?&&contentid=29&contentaction=single
Baltic Sea Region Programme http://eu.baltic.net
Budget
€ 2,546,000
The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional
Information and Communication project
highlighting the partnership between the EU
and Neighbouring countries. The project is
ENPI info centre
managed by Action Global Communications.
www.enpi-info.eu