site.btaInnovation Minister: Cabinet Aims to Improve Administrative Services' Efficiency

In an interview for bTV aired on Saturday morning, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev said that the current state of e-government in Bulgaria is characterized by an inefficient administration, which is why the new government's goal is to improve administrative services over the coming years so that they operate seamlessly for the benefit of citizens and businesses.

According to Vasilev, the government administration could be more efficient if technology were used to help people. He emphasized that the administration's e-services are currently inconvenient and inaccessible to users, even though digitization has been on the agenda for many years.

The Minister added: "E-government is currently in a state that epitomizes a dysfunctional administration. Our ambition is to create a functioning administration that is invisible to people and businesses, one that processes documents quickly, easily, and conveniently, and does not require people to submit the same document multiple times."

Vasilev appealed to the public for patience, noting that the problems in the field of e-government that have accumulated over the years cannot be solved in a day. "I am confident, however, that by the end of this four-year term, digital services will be significantly improved, partly as a result of the technological revolution currently underway," he added.

He expressed confidence that innovation and technology will be the foundation of accelerated and sustainable economic growth. He listed three factors necessary for this goal: access to talent, access to capital, and a business-friendly environment.

Vasilev reported that within the next week, he will present a new proposal for the structure of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation, which merges the current Ministry of Innovation and Growth and the Ministry of e-Government into a single entity.

The total staff of the two ministries is approximately 600 people, and there are about 70 vacant positions. Cost-cutting measures in the new ministry will begin precisely with these vacant positions.

Vasilev noted that the first version of the AI-based Sigma platform will soon be presented, through which all government expenditures will be displayed in a clear and accessible format. He was adamant that transparency is the most effective remedy against corruption. He added that the implementation of technology and AI in the state administration will improve the efficiency of services but will not replace people or relieve them of their responsibility.