A United Nations survey this year has ranked Seychelles first for e-government development in the Africa region.

With an e-government development index value of 0.5192, Seychelles is ranked 1st in Africa, ahead of Mauritius (0.5066), South Africa (O.4869), Tunisia, Egypt, Cape Verde, Kenya, Morocco, Botswana and Namibia.

Overall at world level Seychelles is ranked 84th, 20 places up compared to 2010 when it was ranked 104th worldwide. 

According to the UN report on the survey, a 160-page document (which can be viewed athttp://unpan3.un.org) in 2012, Seychelles undertook further consolidation of infrastructure and its e-government development. Major improvements in government information systems, infrastructure, and integration of thematic services in finance, health, and many other sectors have allowed it to improve its world ranking.

It also notes that the government of Seychelles took the initiative to enhance its e-government service offerings in line with an integrated and interdependent strategic approach, which focuses on Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, government information systems, legal framework, and human resource development, to improve the efficiency in delivery of government services.

In Seychelles the government organisation responsible for the implementation of e-Government initiatives is the Department of ICT (DICT) which is a portfolio under the Vice-President’s Office. The principal secretary (PS) responsible for this department, Benjamin Choppy, commented that the ranking serves as an encouragement to the work being undertaken by his staff and also serves as an indicator that strategy being followed in this area is in the right strategic direction.

He points out nevertheless that “…there is still much to be done for us to reach where we have set our objectives to be”.

Forrás: www.nation.sc