2. Key issues equity issues, especially in rural areas
“Internet economy” slow to emerge in Romania
low business spending on R&D products and services
scarce resources for improving governmental act and processes
- low general international competitiveness of Romanian companies

3. Key causes
Inappropriate infrastructure for enabling access to information and knowledge
Old fashion manner of performing educational activities
Limited e-government specialized services offered both to citizens and business
Insufficient business investments in improving management, marketing and networking skills and in acquiring advanced technology products
Reluctancy to change, risk adversity and lack of awareness of knowledge-based activities, benefits and positive effects

4. Objective of the intervention
Mission: increased participation of Knowledge-disadvantaged communities to Knowledge-based society and economy by
providing access to knowledge and digital literacy to citizens and business and reducing the IT&C educational discrepancies through
Local Communities e-Networks (LCENs)
Institutions and target groups :
Local administrations - civil servants
Schools – teachers, pupils, administrative staff
Libraries- librarians, users
SMEs - Local entrepreneurs
General public – rural and small urban inhabitants

5. Description of the Proposed Intervention
Development of 300 “knowledge resource centers” . These e-Networks will connect the main social, economic and educational entities of the local communities – city hall, school, library, house of culture (Public Access Point to Information) – to the national and international information and business e-networks. – 50 mil USD
Endowment of rural and small urban school with modern educational learning system assisted by computer, development of pedagogical procedures using IT&C, improving school curricula – 10 mil USD
Development of a system for on-line notifications and authorizations of local businesses (local document management systems) – 4 mil USD
Developing an integrated network for offering communitaire public services through electronic means at local level – 10 mil USD
Promoting the Portal for promotion of e-commerce and business networking (eStore) – 5 mil USD
Organizing and promoting Grant Facility Programme dedicated to SMEs for adopting innovative solutions in order to enhancing competitiveness – 20 mil USD
How much might they cost?

6. Institutions involved
World Bank
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Administration and Internal Affaires
Ministry of Education and Research
National Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Cooperation
Ministry of Culture and Relıgıous Affaıres
Associations of local communities

7. Results Indicators
40% of people in targeted communities have used LCeNs as a tool for education, business or public administration and are satisfied with the results
In approximately 300 disadvantaged communities, LCeNs are operating satisfactorily towards a sustainable future in line with their business plans
75% of targeted teachers are using their new skills in the classroom
75% of people in targeted communities, who are willing, are able to acquire basic digital literacy skills
40 % of target beneficiaries (citizens and business) conducting transactions with the government online with 60% completing their transactions with the agreed performance standards
500 co-financed successful projects (single applicants or consortiums) conducting to improving SMEs performance and competitiveness by introducing innovative and modern technologies
SMEs connected in networks aiming at leveraging their resources for achieving valuable capabilities

8. Background Information
Name of Country: ROMANIA
Delegation Representatives:
Diana Voicu – KE PMU Director – Ministry of Communications and IT
Iulian Manea – KE PMU Assistant Director
Viorel Cristea – Director – Ministry of Administration and Interiors
Lucian Ciolan – Minister’s counselor – Ministry of Education and Reserch
Andi Lazescu – President – eRomania Gateway Association
Marcel Duhaneanu – Director Assebus Organization
Coordinates: ;