“We are ready to export our e-government model to developing countries,” announced Russian minister of Communications and Mass Media Igor Shchegolev earlier this week at the ITU Telecom World 2011 forum in Geneva.
“It is clear that if a developing country without significant financial means is to build [an e-government platform], it will be easier to use our cost effective solution than to build another, more expensive one,” said the minister, who sees an “export potential” in the Russian e-government platform already being deployed.
“There are not many ready made solutions of this kind available in the world, designed in real conditions, if any at all,” Shchegolev said.
According to Shchegolev, the cost of the Russian e-government platform amounted to $150 million, including $60 million from the Russian state budget and the remaining part from Rostelecom, the national telecom operator. This includes, in particular, a web portal for government services as well as an electronic interexchange platform serving different government bodies. By comparison, Estonia spent $1.5 billion for a similar system and Singapore has invested no less than $15 billion over the last 10 years.
Not only is the Russian solution cheaper, the Russian minister emphasized that its e-government system is based on cloud technologies, unlike more traditional solutions built in other states.
Source: RIA Novosti / Digit.ru
