E-government experiences and other issues EL SALVADOR Public FTAA.ecom/inf/140 June 4, 2002 Original: Spanish Translation: FTAA Secretariat

A FEW OF THE INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY EL SALVADOR 1.ESTABLISHED NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2.SET UP AN AGENCY FOR REGULATING COMPETITION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS 3.OPENED UP THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR (PRIVATIZATION AND DEREGULATION) 4.COMMITMENTS UNDER THE FOURTH PROTOCOL TO THE GATS (1997) 5.SALE OF STATE ASSETS

6.ENTRY OF NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS 7.INCREASE IN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPs) 8.INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES 9.STATE MODERNIZATION PROCESS *TOTAL QUALITY 10.DEVELOPMENT OF ONE-STOP PORTALS FOR TRANSACTIONS. EXAMPLES – INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, PUBLIC REGISTRIES, TAX PAYMENTS

11.CREATED GOVERNMENT/PRIVATE SECTOR PORTALS 12.SIMPLIFICATION OF FOREIGN TRADE OPERATIONS (IMPORTS/ EXPORTS) 13.SET-UP OF INFORMATION CENTERS 14.INCREASED USE OF INTERACTIVE PORTALS IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR ·LAWS ·NEWS ·AUCTIONS ·TRANSACTIONS AND REGISTRATION ·SERVICES ·TAXES ·BUDGETS ·TENDERS ·TAX DECREES ·DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION ·ECONOMIC STATISTICS OR INDICES

15.STOCK MARKET GROWTH/PAPERLESS SECURITIES 16.LAW TO SIMPLIFY CUSTOMS PROCEDURES 17.DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: DATA MESSAGES AND DIGITAL SIGNATURES, CONSUMER PROTECTION, ETC. 18.NATIONAL REGULATION WORK PLAN

INFORMATION CENTERS Using technology (set-up of a national network with over 100 information centers), provide people with access to new means of communication and information Provide training in different areas to create jobs and provide professional development opportunities Foster business growth by establishing an e-commerce platform Improve Salvadorans’ standard of living by developing both content and applications

The Information Center Association plans to develop at least one hundred Infocenters. The Association owns ten centers while the other information centers will be operated as franchises. Five of the Association’s ten Infocenters have been operating since October By June 2001, an additional fifteen centers had begun operations, bringing the total to twenty-five Infocenters operating in El Salvador. The Infocenter network was designed with a view to becoming the primary means of Internet access by developing a well organized national Network, that can also serve as an outlet for physical and online distribution of products and services.

NATIONAL REGISTRATION CENTER *CNR New ON-LINE service in place since 1 February Users can now apply on-line for the following services: at the Real estate and Mortgage Registry: - Full-text certification - Abstract certification In the Commercial and Intellectual Property Registry: - Abstract and Full-text of Titles and Deeds - Commercial Registration Certificates - Trademark, Patent and Copyright Certificates. Orders for the following cartographic products may be placed with the National Geographic Institute : - maps, plans, aerial photographs, etc.

TELEDELIVERY Simplify customs procedures and provide related information Electronic processing of the general cargo manifest Payment of customs duties