Without a doubt, the digital transformation of the country is in full swing. This is not a “post-modern” concept that concerns a few, but a horizontal policy that concerns us all. This is a national strategy that has a strong socio-economic impact and will radically change the image of Greece by 2030.

We perceive digital transformation as a policy that extends to the entire territory and concerns every Greek woman and every Greek man. In this way, both citizens and public servants, wherever they are, will have tools in their hands that will improve their daily lives and enable them to innovate in any field they work in. Track in real time the changes that are being made in their field of activity.

Over the past three years, Greece has achieved an impressive exponential growth in the use of digital public services, following forward-thinking policies that are also reflected domestically as well as compared to the rest of the EU. In particular, important digital progress is recorded, which is reflected in numbers in the daily lives of citizens. No one expected that so many transactions would now be carried out simply online, transparently, without paperwork and hassle.

As an example, I will mention that in 2018, 8,800,000 digital transactions were recorded, in 2019 their number reached 34,000,000, in 2020 – 94,000,000, in 2021 – 567,000,000, and this year it is expected that their number will exceed 1 billion. shows that in 2022, each fellow citizen saved an average of 120 queues at the public service cash desks. But we also managed what seemed almost impossible. The state—and indeed, in the midst of successive crises—was reintroduced to citizens as a pillar of security and stability. Let’s not forget that we were the EU country with the least confidence in the state. Today everything has changed, and we can all be proud of it.

But this is only the beginning of a journey that we must walk quickly, as the acceleration that comes with new technologies will lead to even greater changes. Most of this transition has already taken place, but we are not complacent. We must never rest on our laurels. That is why we must continue with it and, if possible, even faster with digital reforms. I often say that this is a matter of the very survival of the country, since it is about its adaptation and positioning in the international environment.

The challenge is great and the moment is favorable as the country faces a wide range of financial instruments such as the Public Investment Program, the new NSRF and, above all, the Recovery Fund, which undoubtedly presents a unique opportunity for structural change. technological and institutional prerequisites for public administration. These structural changes will significantly accelerate the development of the national economy, create new jobs and provide more opportunities for everyone.

Over the past three years, Greece has achieved impressive exponential growth in the use of digital public services.

In the project of digital transformation of public administration, the information society is of decisive importance. It currently manages a portfolio of 260 public projects at various stages of maturity and plans to auction over 90 IT and communications projects over the next 6-10 months with a budget of €1.4 billion. Through our interventions and the use of all financial instruments at our disposal, we are getting the country back on the move with the largest digital intervention program in its history.

In addition to the flagship project SYZEXIS, which has been underway for over 10 years and is underway, there is a “chain” of important projects affecting the core of the state, such as National Coding. Portal, HRMS, ERP, digital transformation of the judiciary, which are in progress and will demonstrate in practice the important role of the digital state.

The dynamism of the Recovery Fund, which includes a particularly wide range of digital interventions affecting all sectors of society and the economy, gives us tremendous momentum to move quickly towards a better digital tomorrow. With the main goal of updating the services provided in the fields of health, justice, agriculture, tourism, shipping, diplomacy, telecommunications, infrastructure, business and technology.

In the information society, we have recognized the enormous challenge ahead of us, and we are collaborating with the overseeing Ministry of Digital Management and liaising with IT and telecommunications companies to collectively achieve the timely and optimal implementation of all digital technologies. projects entrusted to us by the bible of digital transformation and the Recovery Fund. We are fully prepared to successfully solve the problems, as well as the opportunities that appear or already exist, for the digital development of the country.

* Mr. Stavros Astenidis – Electrical Engineer, Managing Director of the MAE Information Society.