February 2001

Latvia Summary Report (1999 - 2000)

1.1. National and regional IS strategies and action plans

National program "Informatics" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) has been elaborated and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as a complex target program for the time period 1999 - 2005. The fundamental goal of the Program is to integrate Latvia into the global development process and to form the information society in Latvia. In the Program there is a detailed analysis of the current situation, objectives of the separate subprograms, tasks and priorities, risk factors and there is also a description of the suggested course of execution of the program.

The Program’s practical realisation is ensured by a number of subprograms:

• Informational subprograms envisage the establishment of various generally available and confidential information systems in the state and the municipalities.
• communication subprograms task is to ensure all types of information transmission and to supply users.
• putting in order legislation, standardisation and Latvian cultural requirement issues are envisaged in normative subprograms.
• knowledge subprograms should ensure high educational level of the whole society, researches and development of technologies in informatics and telecommunications.
• applied subprograms are dedicated for planning of information technology applications and projects and determination of priorities.

A total number of program projects in 1999 - 2005 is 122, and the financing needed for the program execution was approximately 243 million LVL.

The Program "Informatics" is being updated regularly without changing its baselines. The sections are renovated, documents that are elaborated in addition are included, projects are updated. The updated version of the Program "Informatics 2000" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) pays special attention to the:

• priority significance of the informatics as a branch of the national economy to increase the GDP and the level of welfare of the society;
• training of the skilled IT specialists including training of specialists of the highest academic and professional level.

It is necessary even now for the accelerated development of Latvia’s national economy to involve the information society evolution process. Involvement is important not only for the specialists in information technologies, but also for every member of the society, each enterprise in every region. Therefore the "Socio Economic Programme eLatvia" (www.lem.gov.lv) was developed. Its aim is to increase the effectiveness and the competitiveness of Latvia’s national economy in the global market, to accelerate the improvement of welfare’s level of the society and thus to encourage a sustainable development of Latvia. The essence of the "eLatvia" programme is:

• to encourage formation, spread and introduction in Latvia the basic conditions, principles and processes of the new economy;
• to create opportunities for every citizen and business to take full part in the processes of the new economy in Latvia;
• to promote the increase of welfare’s level of every person, to encourage civil harmony in the country, the economic and social cohesion.

Several strategic documents are devoted to separate issues.

"Concept of National Integrated Library Information Network" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) has been developed to realise principles of knowledge management on the state scale. The key canons of the Concept are:

• libraries should become the main providers of all types of information (business/finance, state significance, scientific technical, reference etc.) in the country;
• any library should be possible to provide full set of advanced information services to the users.

"Concept for Increasing Quality of Information Services Provided by Public Bodies" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm). This document contains key principles for development of general electronic access to the public sector information in order to increase general level of democracy in the country as well as to prepare the country for free circulation of goods, services and people after accession to the EU. Several types of information services should be developed by every public institution:

• communications services that include full contact information;
• information services related to the activities of the public body;
• transaction services for distance contacts with the public body.

In order to ensure general user-friendly access for everybody, it is necessary to create public access terminals in libraries, schools and municipalities. The central one stop access point to all public sector information resources of the country (portal) should be installed.

The main goal of the implementation of the "Concept of ID cards" (www.pid.gov.lv/aktual/aktual.htm) is to introduce a national identification card – the document that identifies Latvia’s private persons, that corresponds to principles of the European Union which are accepted internationally. It is envisaged to start issue of identification cards to residents in 2001.

The card will be a carrier for minimal information (personal code, coded personal photograph, biometrical information). It should be used as a key for access to various data that are available in information systems (address, family status, patient and pensioner data etc.). Advanced microprocessor technologies permit to use the identification card as a multifunctional tool to enjoy various services of any national or local public and private institution.

Latvia has taken a big step toward defining its approach to the development of the state. But the implementation of the National Program "Informatics" and related concepts only will not ensure the full emergence of the Information Society. The Program is simply a first step in this process, the future society of Latvia will rise on these foundations.

Experts have elaborated a complex, long-term strategy for Latvia’s sustainable political, economic and social development – "Latvia: from Vision to Action" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm). The only really possible route for development is to emphasise the intensive use of knowledge and know-how, in other words – development of the information society. Traditional values of the Latvia’s society allow us to forecast that Latvia’s sustainable development may well be based on the basic principles of development of the information society in Europe – freedom, security, human rights, equal opportunities, unity and sustainability.

The economy will be strictly oriented towards production processes which consume low levels of energy supplies and raw materials and are instead based on knowledge, high technologies and innovation in industry, agriculture and services such as information technologies, advanced bio-pharmaceutical industry, deep wood processing. Latvia will become an active participant in regional and global economic activities.

1.2. Surveys and observatories related to IS development

Various surveys, analyses, observatories are conducted to determine the situation in separate sectors.

The purpose of the "Information Technology Services Sector Study" is to analyse the development of the IT services sector in Latvia and evaluate the competitive characteristics and growth potential that it possesses. The information for this study has been acquired through interviews with industry professionals as well as documentary research.

"Survey of the information technology, telecommunications and electronic sector in Latvia" (www.litta.lv/nozares_apraksts.htm) focuses on training highly skilled labour force in order to develop the sector as a competitive branch of the national economy. The goal of the Survey is to look at the existing situation, at developmental potential, and at various trends and forecasts so as to establish the information base on which professional education standards which ensure the sustainable and balanced development of the sector can be elaborated.

The major aim of the survey "Usage of IT and perspectives of their development in Latvia" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) was to obtain data on usage of IT in the households:

• presence of computers in the households and their usage;
• characteristics of the households that use a computer or that plan to obtain it;
• types of home computers and their specification (peripheral devices);
• connection to Internet and its utilization.

Results of the survey characterise corresponding segment of the market for information services; they can also be used for calculation of the necessary capacity of public telecommunications networks

The survey "Information and communication technologies in the Vidzeme region" (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) reflects the current situation in the sphere of information and communications technologies and services. There is conducted the SWOT analysis of the situation as a whole as well as of health and library sectors. The vision and tasks for ICT in Vidzeme are formulated, a number of activities for Vidzeme University College, as well as for municipalities and schools of the region are outlined. The are elaborated a number of ICT projects (The Baltics cybercity, Portal "Vidzeme", E-government for Vidzeme, Teleeducation for servants of local authorities, E-health and social care) that will support development of Vidzeme region. The collected data are destined for elaboration of the Vidzeme development program.

1.3. Communication actions

In spite of the increasing electronic communication possibilities, the value of personal contacts remains extremely high.

The annual "Baltic IT&T" conferences (http://www.dtmedia.lv) are gathering specialists, representatives of businesses and companies, people from international organisations and politicians from the countries of the Baltic region -- Latvia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden as well as representatives of EC bodies. The Conferences are focusing on information society related issues – E-business, the convergence of various kinds of communications, Internet training, the role of state-significance systems, effect of the information society on individuals etc.

An important precondition for the development of information technologies and telecommunications are investments. At this time the Baltic region is safer and more open to external investments and internal credits. In order to help people to take advantage of these investment-related opportunities, special investment forums are organised under the auspices of the conferences.

Representatives of international and local information technologies and telecommunications companies as well as administrative bodies and academic institutions are taking part in the annual Baltic Sea Communications Forums (www.lbs.riga.lv/com). The major subjects:

• role of telecommunications and information technologies for the further development of the Baltic States’ national economics;
• the last achievements of the communications technologies;
• projects of the next millennium in the Baltic Sea region.

The annual national scientific -- practical conferences "Latvia and Advanced Telecommunications Technologies" are dedicated to the World Telecommunications Day that was announced by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Riga Technical University Telecommunications Institute organises the conferences.

The aim of the Conferences is to analyse the strategy for development of telecommunications in the country and to popularise the advanced telecommunications technologies. The major subjects:

• the state policy in telecommunications field;
• the market for telecommunications services and tariff policy;
• advanced telecommunications technologies and their utilization.

Professors and masters of universities as well as leading specialists of public bodies, state and private companies are taking part in the Conferences.

A number of Information Days has been organised by FEMIRC Latvia (www.innovation.lv/femirc). The programme of these Days includes information on the various issues of the programme "Information Society Technologies" of the Fifth Framework Programme, on the European IST Prize etc. EU activities are presented in details by representatives of EC bodies.

An important event was the 4^th meeting of the EU-CEEC Joint High Level Committee (www.sam.gov.lv) that was held in Riga. In the opening address Mr. Andris Skele, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia said, that Latvia sees collaboration among all the European states - including the associated Central and Eastern European Countries as an important component of integrated European information policy, as well as, general preaccession strategy of Latvia. The main activities during the meeting were related to the preparation of the European Ministerial Conference in Warsaw.

Regular conducting exhibitions are another substantial activity for promotion of advanced technologies.

The annual international IT&T and office equipment exhibitions "Baltic IT&T" (www.dtmedia.lv) has become the main annual event and meeting place for company specialists, managers and users. The number of exhibitors and visitors at the exhibition has increased year by year, and the quality of the event has improved. More than 100 leading international and local companies from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Germany, USA have participated at the exhibitions.

The goal of the annual national expositions LatSTE (www.smigi.edu.lv/LatSTE) is to promote integration of advanced information technologies in the educational process:

• by involving a wide audience of participants (teachers, pupils, representatives of municipalities, representatives of computer firms, professors of universities, managers of projects, employees of publishing houses and libraries, etc.);
• by using different forms of work (exhibition of computer firms, plenary meetings, workshops, stands of schools and projects, particular activities, etc.).

Tasks of the exposition:

• to acquaint teachers with the tasks of information technologies and possibilities of their integration in schools;
• to create and to offer methodological ideas;
• to promote co-operation and exchange of experience among teachers.

1.4. Calls for innovative projects and proposals

Calls for proposals are announced constantly for public procurement, including those on information technology projects. All these activities are conducted in accordance with the National Program "Informatics" and the National investment program. The general goal is to give aid to the establishment of the information society, utilizing for that purpose the latest achievements of information technologies and qualitatively improving of the services and applications.

Development of the integrated association of national information systems – the megasystem (www.mega.lv) and its components (Population, Enterprises, Real Estate, Vehicles registers and State Revenue Service information System, various branch information systems) is the basic issue for number of calls. A set of identified organizational, informative, normative, technological, financial, qualification and methodological problems should be solved. The centralized resources -- the register of registers and the central access point – are developed.

Implementation of the state strategy for provision of advanced information services (collection, processing and delivery of information to the customer) and telecommunication services (information transmission and routing) to state institutions at all levels, is the basic issue of the development of the Government Data Communications Network (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm). Provision of integrated voice/data/image service, management and co-ordination of the multiinstitutional information and telecommunications projects are included in the set of services that should be developed as a result of tenders.

Creation of the Baltic Governmental Data Communications Network (www2.acadlib.lv/grey/saraksts.htm) is taking place as expansion of the integrated national information system at an international (Baltic) scale and as a pilot stage for the integration of the national information systems into Pan European information systems and networks.

The aim of proposals for the Latvian Education Informatization System project (www.liis.lv) is to elaborate electronic versions (html-files, Word documents, CD-ROMs etc.) of model programmes and their methodological support for various subjects (textbooks, educational tools, collected sums, distributing materials, tests, test works, demonstration programmes, www sites etc.). They will be distributed through Internet, on diskettes or CD-ROMs and in this way substantially increase provision of education process as well as equalise the educational feasibilities in the cities and countryside.

1.5. Coordination, evaluation and promotional bodies

The National Information Society Council is established to coordinate and promote all developmental processes on the state scale. The Council is a consultative institution formed by the Cabinet of Ministers. Its goal is to support the development of the information society in Latvia and to coordinate inclusion of the country in the global and European development process. The main task of the Council is to promote:

• evolution of the knowledge management on the state scale as a priority and the basis for development of the national economy and social life;
• availability of all types of information for every member of society;
• development of the national information infrastructure;
• increasing quality of higher education and R&D, development of research and innovation, co-operation of the R&D segment and production;
• restructuring the national economy, to accent usage of knowledge and to promote development of high-tech based enterprises;
• regular information of the society on the process of the development of information society in the country and on joining every member of the society to the process.

A widely represented Coordination Board for the National Program "Informatics" has also been established. The board members represent the Informatics departments and/or Informatics Boards in their ministries delegated by all ministries, representatives of the biggest telecommunications and data transmission network operators (Lattelekom, Latvia Mobile Telephone, the Latvian Postage computer network, Government Data Communications Network), association of local governments, some primary registers, manufacturers of computer hardware and software, representatives of higher educational establishments and Latvian Academy of Sciences. Most of the Board members are professionals in the field. The Board is managed by the Minister of Transport, and, in fact, such representation allows performing the role of the Latvian Information Society Forum.

The main task of the Coordination Board is to ensure implementation of the National Program "Informatics" in accordance with the defined and approved priorities which means discussing and approval of branch information technology concepts and strategies, assessment of bills and investment projects, the international cooperation program, and coordination of individual projects. In order to ensure actual development of the strategic issues the Strategic Task Group is formed by 9 experts.

Supervisory boards for the management of the major long-term projects are established.

The major tasks for the Supervisory Board of the Integrated Information System of State Significance (megasystem) are:

• to coordinate the creation of the megasystem and its components -- information systems -- for provision of effective governance of the country;
• to coordinate cooperation of national and municipal institutions in the framework of the megasystem;
• to evaluate proposals and to give references on the allotment of investments for projects of state significance and branch information systems.

Supervision Board of the United Information System Project for Municipalities is established to coordinate and to manage the implementation of the project keeping to the principles of the administrative-territorial reform:

• to ensure qualitative services for population from the state and municipal institutions;
• to organise a qualitative exchange of information between the state institutions, municipalities and population.

The members of the Supervision Boards are representatives of ministries, municipalities and primary information systems.

One government commission was set up in order to manage the situation and Y2K problem solving across the country. The same decision urges the creation subsequent working groups in all branches of economy, their action plans are including process inventory, risk evaluation, elaboration of contingency plans and evaluation of necessary resources (experts, funding, etc.).

The Cabinet of Ministers decision has set up several working groups for managing issues related to fixed telecommunications operator "Lattelekom". The working group’s terms of reference cover:

• negotiations between Privatisation Agency and the Lattelekom foreign investor Sonera Ltd on the alteration of Umbrella Agreement;
• compensation for the reduction in the term during which Lattelekom enjoys monopoly rights;
• terms for privatisation of the state share in Lattelekom;
• transformation of Lattelekom into a public stock company, floating for public purchase of the state segment of shares.

Professional associations are organised in order to promote the level of technological skill of specialists, to cooperate among members and with other associations and enterprises in the field of information and telecommunications services.

The aim of the Telecommunications Association of Latvia is to promote improvement of the telecommunications sector:

• increasing competition in the market for telecommunications services in Latvia;
• creation of environment that is favourable for further foreign investments in the telecommunications sector;
• creation of the links between telecommunications experts in Latvia.

Development of the information society has been defined as the main objective and task for the Information Technologies and Telecommunications Association of Latvia LITTA (www.litta.lv). The association is holding conferences, organises promotional activities. One of the basic activities for LITTA – distribution of ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) in Latvia. LITTA has become a member of CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies.