Morocco's e-administration project Idarati to cost $6.8 million
Morocco, Economics, 2/14/2004

Morocco's e-administration project "Idarati" (literally my administration), aimed at developing central and territorial management tools, will cost the government 62 million dirhams (around $6.8 million).

The project will enable users' access to administrative services through desks, bank counters, telephone and Internet, and an intranet network will be interconnecting administrations.

The project is meant to favor inter-administrative communication, enhance decentralization and encourage IT use among citizens through fast and less costly "paperless" services.

Moroccan minister of public sectors modernization, Najib Zerouali, said Idarati, which will help improve standards of public conduct and consolidate democracy, will be implemented gradually in coordination between all departments and with the collaboration of the UNDP, in the perspective of its full implementation by 2007.

On the Internet high cost in Morocco and potential problems, the minister said the Moroccan phone operator and internet provider "IAM" is undertaking parallel efforts to reduce connection cost.

Concerning the lack in computer and network specialists among administrative staffs (Only 12,000 civil servants, i.e. 0.3% of the total number), he said Morocco is carrying out a scheme to train some 5,000 technicians and engineers to fill the gap, adding that 2,000 to 3,000 employers have so far completed a training in IT.

He also deplored the meager budget (0.9% of the overall budget) earmarked to IT in Morocco saying that while new technologies are used in Moroccan universities, their application in other sectors remains low.

The minister called for international cooperation in the realm to bridge the digital divide between developed and developing countries.

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