WEEKLY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMY NEWSPAPER
Community’s quality of life will be improved with the EFFECTIVE e-government 2016-2019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan’ prepared for the first time in our country by Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, General Directorate of Communication, e-Government Services Department came into force by being published in July 19, 2016 dated and 29775 numbered Official Gazette Appendix II. Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan drew attention to e-government focus being ‘EFFECTIVE e-Government Ecosystem’ and stated that “Come and Help us Guide this e-Transformation”. 2016-2019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan is prepared in the frame of Turkey’s 2023 vision, 10th Development Plan and 2015-2018 Information Society Strategy and Action Plan (BTS); taking into account corporate and strategic plans of the institutions, other national strategy documents (Unregistered Economy Reduction Program Action Plan, National Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan, Turkey Transportation and Communication Strategy Target 2023 etc.) and the needs of all stakeholders in the ecosystem of e-government. The European Union (EU) Digital Agenda 2020 Strategy Document and 2016-2020 e-Government Action Plan, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OECD) Digital Government Strategy Council Recommendations were
an important reference international documents in the preparation of the Strategy and Action Plan. 2016-2019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan is Turkey’s first comprehensive and integrated national e-government strategy and action plan that is shaped by common sense and a scientific perspective including central government departments, local governments, citizens, private sectors, professional organizations, nongovernmental organizations and universities analysis. In scope of the 18-month study, senior policy documents and the relevant legislation were examined, workshops and focus group meetings have been organized for all stakeholders and satisfaction and perception surveys were carried out for the central and local governments, private sectors and citizens. When determining a national e-government policy, Turkey’s unique conditions, requirements in the e-government maturity models, international developments and technological innovations and trends were taken into account.
Among the aspects considered, there are concepts such as open data sharing, transparency and accountability, cyber security, innovation in the public sector, the development and submission of public services as the e-government services (digital by default), development of e-government services in such a way that it can be completed in a single operation or a single application principle (once only principle) and services being developed with the participation of stakeholders.
‘National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan’ responds to the needs of all stakeholders Speaking about the details of the process UDHB, General Directorate of Communications, e-Government Services Department Head Ensar Kılıç stated that: “Regulating the Ministry’s organization scheme, duties, responsibilities and authorizations, the legal decision on Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Duties article numbered 655 published in the Official Gazette dated November 1, 2011 and
numbered 28102 states that ‘The responsibility of preparing action plans on e-government services, setting rules and procedures, coordinating and conducting monitoring activities, preparing the necessary arrangements on the objective of information society policy, goals and strategies building the necessary cooperation and coordination with relevant public institutions belong to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications’. In this context; ‘2016-2019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan’ was prepared in the framework of 2016-2018 National Information Society Strategy and Action Plan to respond to the needs of all stakeholders.”
A sustainable strategic perspective was adopted Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan shared the following
information emphasizing that an integrated, sustainable and strategic perspective was developed in shaping and implementing the e-government policy with ‘2016-2019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan’: “In the context of 10th Development Plan and the Information Society Strategy, effectiveness of public management, participation, transparency and accountability were aimed to be strengthened. To achieve this goal, the use of information and communication technologies in public services processes is seen as the main tool. In this context, studies conducted by public institutions under the topic of e-government are scheduled to continue in line with the national strategy and action plan. When the prominent world examples of e-government and global trends are evaluated; the present conditions of our day and age require citizencentric e-transformation, social networks, accountability, governance and transparency as well as a redefinition of the relationship between the state and all shareholders in e-government. In recent years, important steps have been taken in setting policies, decisionmaking and implementation processes in the public sector of Turkey to adopt a more participating, transparent and holistic approach. 20162019 National e-Government Strategy and Action Plan was prepared for the first time in our country in this direction by our Ministry. Via this document, the e-government policy became concrete and a sustainable strategic perspective was adopted for shaping and implementing it. In the new era, e-government’s focus will be ‘EFFECTIVE e-Government Ecosystem’ and implemented as more ‘integrated, technological, participatory, innovative and qualified’ and it will be the engine of the transition to an information society and sustainable development.”