The Hindu : Naidu calls for paperless trade regime

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu calls for paperless trade regime

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 13. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has suggested that Asian countries adopt a common framework for e-governance as well as a common certifying programme and training module for IT and IT enabled service professionals to consolidate Asia as the preferred destination for global outsourcing.

Speaking on the second day of the Asian IT Ministers' Summit here on Tuesday, Mr. Naidu also called for a paperless trading regime on the lines of the existing `Pan Asia e-Commerce Alliance,' the establishment of an Asia wide virtual university and setting up of an institute to develop e-governance ideas and projects for developing countries.

Mr. Naidu argued that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) was a strategic tool available for developing countries to eradicate poverty and `leapfrog' into developed status in a short span of time. He listed the entire range of e-governance initiatives taken by the Andhra Pradesh Government. The Government's target was to provide all services and information to citizens through eSeva outlets and through the Internet portal. He said that eSeva had already mediated over 14 million transactions between citizens and the Government. Similarly, the e-procurement system for tenders had saved the Government US $ 44 million in the last year alone. This year the State would accept all tenders only through e-procurement system which reduced cost, increased transparency and saved time, he said.

In his welcome address, the Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Arun Shourie, said that Asia had a natural advantage in the IT race due to its cost-effective but high quality human resources. The challenge before the Asian Governments was to convert this advantage into an abiding strength. This can only be done if IT projects, particularly e-governance, were implemented in mission mode as had been done by the State of Andhra Pradesh, he added.

Referring to the demonstration by visually challenged students on the application of IT for their education, Mr. Shourie announced that the Government of Andhra Pradesh had agreed to construct a new building for their school and he promised all help from his Ministry to make it fully IT enabled.

The Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Thirunavukkarasar, proposed a vote of thanks.

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