The way to end corruption and speed economic development in Ukraine may lie in technology -- especially the emerging field of “cloud computing.”
At least that was the pitch from Orlando Ayala, chairman of emerging markets for Microsoft, who was in Kyiv this week to speak about the role communication technology will play in Ukraine’s future.
He believes Ukraine’s relatively good educational system and large number of software developers are factors that could make the country a key player in the international technology market. But to move forward, the country must change the way it does things.
“You can have all the technology in the world, but if you don’t have the political willingness to change policy and produce reform, it’s very hard to make this jump,” Ayala said.
Recommendations for exactly what steps Ukraine should take are outlined in a report put together by Microsoft under Ayala’s supervision. Ayala presented these ideas to presidential chief of staff Serhiy Lyovochkin in a June 8 meeting.
The next step, Ayala said, is actually implementing policy that will make this possible.
You can have all the technology in the world, but if you don’t have the political willingness to change policy and produce reform, it’s very hard to make this jump.
– Orlando Ayala.
Improved information and communication technology is the best way to both further government transparency and help Ukraine become more competitive in global markets, according to the Microsoft report.
Cooperation between private and public sectors is necessary to bring Ukraine up to date with access to Internet and communication technology in the future.
“Cloud computing” — an emerging technology that would centralize all government data on the Internet — is the best way for governments to maximize efficiency and transparency, according to Ayala. With “cloud computing,” citizens can easily access public information from all sectors of the government.
This should also increase efficiency in paperwork reduction and communications that, Ayala believes, will lead to less corruption within government.
Several countries have already started using technology to speed efficiency. In the United States, The Office of E-Government and Information Technology is dedicated to improving public access to information.
In February, the U.S. government established a “Cloud First” policy to begin streamlining government information technology resources using cloud computing.
If Ukraine is to develop a successful e-government plan, it needs to specify a political entity that is responsible for information technology, according to the Microsoft report.
Government should also improve access to computers and information-technology education in primary schools and secondary schools and provide training to all public sector workers.
Ayala was optimistic about Ukraine’s future, but said that progress will only take place when government commits specific funding and oversight to its technology goals. “I have very serious doubts that you can actually make progress unless you commit yourself to use technology to enable the changes in public policy,” he said.
Kyiv Post staff writer Alissa Ambrose can be reached at [email protected]
