Nepal Expert Group Meeting on Regional Cooperation towards Building - PDF document

Nepal

Expert Group Meeting on Regional Cooperation towards Building an Information Society in Asia and the pacific, Bangkok, 20-22, July 2009 Purushottam Ghimire Joint Secretary Ministry of Environment (MOE) Nepal

National Policy for ICT Development To create IT enabling environment in the country Encouraging private sectors for development and promotion of IT sector in order to eradicate poverty Developing sustainable and competitive IT by using modern technology in the rural areas, Introducing new development programs in IT for socio- economic development

National Policy for ICT Development Three-Year Interim Plan (2007-09) “ Promote ICT sector in such a way that it could be used by all community and micro-level economic units and linked with business and service purposes. It will promote the way of life skills promptly. It will also help reduce unnecessary channels of distribution of goods and services from producers to ultimate consumers. ” National Planning Commission

Major Goals of the 11 th Interim Plan (2007-09) • Use IT as a tools for development • Establishment of Government Integrated Data and Training Center (GIDTC) • Capacity enhanced 27 telecenter • Provide training to 2550 government staffs • Establish 300 telecenters • Implement government accounting in 300 offices • Implement e-government Master Plan

National ICT Policies 2.1 Background of ICT Development • Began with use of IBM 1410 in 1971 • Establishment of National Computer Center (NCC) in 1974 and dissolved in 1998 • Computer education started in early 1990s. • Internet started with e-mail services in June 1994. • In 1995, 150 e-mail addresses and in 2002 the Number were 150000 and Now the figure is 500,000

Main ICT Policy Components 2.2. Telecommunications Act 1997 and Regulation 1998  Establishment of NTA (Telecom-authority)  Telecommunication Policy 1999  - Standard and reliable Telecom service  -Policy Liberalization , Telecommunication sector open ( Private Sector Participation)  Telecommunication Policy 2004

Nepal IT Policy 2000 Vision – To place Nepal in the Global Map of Information Technology within the next five years Objectives – To make information technology accessible to the general public and increase employment through this means – To build a knowledge-based society – To establish knowledge-based industries

Major Components of IT Policy • Government’s role are facilitator, Promoter, and certain extent Regulator • Partnership with private sector • Promote foreign investment • Develop IT infrastructure • Good governance/ e-government • Legalize e-commerce

Major components of IT (cont..) • IT as import substitution and export oriented • Computerization of government offices • One window system • Promotion and establishment of software and hardware. • Promotion of e-commerce, e-education, tele-health • Establishment of IT Park

e- Government initiatives (examples) • Tax Filing (VAT, PAN, TDS): www.ird.gov.np • e-payment system (MoF, NRB, NBA, SCT, ITPF, NCC, CAN) • e-Procurement: www.bolpatra.gov.np • Business registration (e.g. cottage & small industry): www.company-registrar.gov.np • e-bazar.com • Land, population/citizen, vehicle registration • Postal Services: www.nepalpost.gov.np • Government Accounting System: www.fcgo.gov.np • Health Management Information System: www.healthnet.org.np • Customs: www.customs.gov.np • Immigration Control: www.immi.gov.np • Criminal record: www.nepalpolice.gov.np •

IT Policy and Strategy 1. Strategic focus, legal and regulatory framework, 2. Infrastructures 3. Content and Application 4. Private Sector Participation 5. Human Resource Development

Key ICT Players Government Agencies • Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) • Ministry of Information & Communication (MOIC) • High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT) • Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) • National Information Technology Centre (NITC) • Offices of Controller of certifying Authority • Project Management Unit for ADB project under the Prime Minister’s Office

Key ICT Players Cont…. Selected Private Institutions • Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) • ISP Association of Nepal • IT Professional Forum • Internet Service User Group • Association of Computer Engineer Nepal (ACEN) • Microsoft Liaison Office

Key ICT Players Cont…. Selected Private Institutions • Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) • ISP Association of Nepal • IT Professional Forum • Internet Service User Group • Internet Society, Nepal Chapter • Association of Computer Engineer Nepal (ACEN) • Microsoft MDP Nepal

ICT Infrastructure up to June 2009 Available Voice Telephone Service Service NDCL UTL SNPL STM Total ( in thousand) Fixed PSTN 556 - - - 556 WLL 180 68 - 4 252 Mobile GSM 2696 - 1856 - 4552 ,, CDMA Sky 529 - - - 529 Others Limited - 67 - - 67 WCDMA (G3) .6 - - - .6 Total 3961.6 135 1856 4 5956.6 Penetration Rate in% Fixed 2.93 % Mobile 18.47 % Others 0.25% Total 21.65 %

ICT Law and Regulations • Electronic Transaction Act 2061 – To validate & give legal recognition to electronic documents, signature & transactions – To facilitate the admission of electronic documents, signature & transactions as evidence in case of dispute. – Penalization of unauthorized access to information • Copy Right Act • Right to Information Act

ICT Human Resources: Status/Progress

ICT Human Resources: Challenges • The actual need for ICT human resources in Nepal is unclear 6000 ICT graduate are produce by 62 colleges per year. • Responsibility for implementing ICT human resource development is not explicit, and there is no institutional champion. • There are no appropriate training standards. • Lack of ICT-skilled management personnel. • There is a lack of practical knowledge among recent graduates, highlighting insufficient work-place exposure prior to graduation. • The brain drain problem is significant: Non- returners are as high as 90% for Nepal for all overseas study (i.e. higher for IT majors). • There is no systematic career growth for ICT human resources/IT professionals. Lack of ICT industry integration • The awareness of ICT and its benefits is low.

Millennium Development Goal and ICT as a Tool MDG 1- Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger – Information Dissemination – Awareness Raising – Increase Productivity/ High Yield – Efficient Public Service Delivery MDG 2- Achieve Universal Primary Education – School Net – Education in/ with ICT – School Content on Web

Millennium Development Goal and ICT as a Tool cont.. MDG 3- Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women – Equal Access to ICT – ICT Applications on Women’s Initiatives MDG 4- Reduce Child Mortality – E-health – E-learning – Program dissemination through Media – Online Consultation

Millennium Development Goal and ICT as a Tool cont.. • MDG 5- Improve Maternal Health – Educational program through Media – Regular Dissemination of Information – E-Health – Online Consultation • MDG 6- Combat HIV AIDS/Malaria & other Diseases – Awareness Program through Media – Online Consultation – Information Dissemination

Millennium Development Goal and ICT as a Tool cont.. MDG 7- Ensure Environmental Sustainability – Raising Awareness – Information Dissemination – Geographical Information System (GIS) MDG 8- Develop a Global Partnership for Development – ICT friendly Policy, Legislation, Regulation, Operation, Financial Mechanism & Customer Care – Integration and Harmonization of Sectoral Policies with ICT application and Services

On Going Initiatives • Necessary Legislation in line with Policy provisions • e-government Master Plan Development • Integration of ICT Policy in Sectoral Policies • Establishment of Rural ICT Centers • Operation of IT park

Institutional Development • Capacity building of MOST, MOIC and NTA for Policy and Regulation respectively • Define role of MOIC and MOST to avoid overlapping • Prompt, Simple, Convenient and Transparent implementation • Clear role and responsibility of the private sectors IT • Role and responsibility of Central Bank for electronic transaction

Challenges • Build a Better Understanding of role of ICT in Development Endeavor • Lack of support from donors • Infrastructure • Resource Mobilization • Strategic Institutional Restructuring • Effective Implementation • Lack of regional support

Cooperation and Collaboration for Peace, Progress and Prosperity • Government Initiation • Civil Society’s Participation • Business Entities’ Investment • International Communities’ Technical and financial Support • Investment opportunity for NRN

Initiatives for Regional Cooperation 1. Supporting and broadening sub-regional initiatives 2. Strengthening cooperation at the regional level 3. Facilitating cross-regional cooperation

Thank you