National-level ICT training strategy PROJECT “ E L I S A “ National-level ICT training strategy report for Bulgaria WORKSHOP – ROUND TABLE SOFIA – 11.10.2007 1

Background Adoption of ICT by enterprises Legal Framework Government to Business e-services 2

Adoption of ICT by enterprises all Bulgarian enterprises with more than 10 employees - computerised 28 % of the enterprises with less than 10 employees had no computer employees using a computer at their workplace – nearly 30 % in 2006 about 60 % of SMEs use ICT mostly for secretarial work, document registration and accounting activities only 10 % of SMEs use ICT for management information systems, production automation systems, client relation management systems In 2007 about 90 % of the computers and 90 % of the enterprises linked to Internet In 2007-2008 more than 50 % of the enterprises with more than ten employees with own websites 3

Legal Framework Law on Electronic Document and Electronic Signature Law on Access to Public Information Law on Personal Information Protection Amendments of the Criminal Code Law on Electronic Commerce Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law on Administrative Servicing of Citizens and Legal Entities 4

Government to Business e-services Social security and health insurance information Public procurement Corporate taxes Customs declerations VAT Registration of Legal Entity Submission of tax declarations Submission of data to the National Statistical iInstitute 5

EXISTING POLICY MEASURES AND DOCUMENTS Existing Strategies Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” 2007-2013 6

Existing Strategies e-Government Strategy The National Strategy for Encouragement of SMEs Development, 2002 – 2006 Bulgarian National Innovation Strategy The National Investment Promotion Strategy, 2005-2010 7

Priority Axis 3 “Financial Resources for Developing Enterprises” Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” 2007-2013 Priority Axis 1 “Development of a knowledge-based economy and innovation activities” Priority Axis 2 “Increasing efficiency of enterprises and promoting a supportive business environment” Priority Axis 3 “Financial Resources for Developing Enterprises” Priority Axis 4 “Strengthening the international market positions of Bulgarian economy” Priority Axis 5 “Technical assistance” 8

Policy recommendations and Guidelines National ICT training programme features 9

Policy recommendations There are three key essential recommendations to be taken into consideration while developing initiatives to encourage the adoption of ICT by SMEs: Raise awareness among SMEs of the benefits of ICT; Strengthen ICT literacy and build capacity in the alignment of business and ICT strategies; Create enabling environments for the adoption and growth of ICT firms. 10

National ICT training programme features The programme should provide: Information regarding the benefits and costs of adoption of ICTs E-learning courses that are flexible and tailored to specific ICT skills industries, employees’ position and role, or software/hardware applications; WEB based consultancy and advice in adopting ICT applications new business processes and business models based on ICT, including e-commerce and e-business; WEB-based resource center for SME relevant digital content in Bulgarian and in other languages 11

Thank you very much for your attention! 12