The Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration, Lulëzon Jagxhiu, presented the main results and projects of the first 100 days of his mandate at the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Administration.
Below you will find the full speech from the press conference:
Dear media representatives,
Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Today I am presenting to you the results of the first 100 days of the governing mandate of the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Administration. The 100 days that ended on Friday are a short period of time, but concrete and important steps have been taken towards the transformation of public administration, the advancement of the digital state and the strengthening of the institutional capacities of the Republic of Kosovo.
From the very beginning, we have set a clear vision: institutions should function faster, simpler and closer to the citizen. For us, digitalization is not just technological modernization, but a way to increase efficiency, transparency and trust in institutions. In these 100 days, we have moved from planning to implementation. We have launched concrete reforms that directly affect the lives of citizens, we have advanced cybersecurity, we have built the foundations of modern digital infrastructure and we have strengthened strategic international partnerships.
I would like to emphasize that these results have been achieved in a period when the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Administration, as a new Ministry, has also gone through the process of institutional consolidation and functionalization of its structures. Despite this, we have managed to build a fast pace of work and to launch and advance reforms, initiatives and concrete projects with a direct impact on citizens and institutions. In the field of digitalization, we have expanded integrated services for childbirth in Prishtina, after successful piloting in Gjilan and Ferizaj. This approach based on life events is changing the way the state provides services, placing the citizen at the centre.
In parallel, we have advanced with the preparations for integrated services related to 3 other life events: the death of a relative, opening a business and changing the residential address, while the start of the project for these services is expected during June.
This week, the implementation of the eKosova 2.0 project is expected to officially begin, which will include 400 new digitalized services, functionalities based on artificial intelligence, improved performance and additional security.
In early June, the development of the whole-of-government (WoG) platform will begin, which will digitize internal processes and connect financial, human resources, payroll, asset and legislation management systems, with the aim of advancing data-driven planning, monitoring and policymaking.
Following the ratification of the KOMPAS project in the Assembly, we have started the implementation of the Kosovo Health Information System ecosystem, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. Of the components of this ecosystem, 14 are planned to be completed within a 3-year period.
We have completed the first phase of the state data catalogue, where the first 5 state registries have already been connected, creating the basis for the use of artificial intelligence in public administration processes.
This week also marks the commencement of the development of the national interoperability framework and the design of the next-generation interoperability platform. Currently, more than 50 state systems are interconnected through the existing platform, and our goal is to take this interconnection to the next level.
We have also initiated the process of developing an open data portal, with the aim of increasing transparency and creating added value from public data.
We have also collected comprehensive information on administrative services from 27 government institutions, and a contract for the construction of a digital service catalogue system is expected to be signed in June.
In terms of digital infrastructure, we have completed the design and technical specifications for the modernization of the government network GovNet, and are finalizing the specifications for the transition to a hybrid government cloud and the creation of a disaster recovery centre. Through these transformations, we aim to create a modern, secure and scalable infrastructure for the era of artificial intelligence. We have also secured a $700,000 grant from the Korean Green Innovation Fund, managed through the World Bank, to strengthen innovation capacities and implement artificial intelligence in public administration.
In the context of reducing the administrative burden, we have completed the guide for simplifying administrative services, as well as the Gender Impact Assessment of the administrative burden reduction process, with the aim of a more efficient and inclusive administration.
With the aim of supporting the development of the digital economy and digital inclusion, a free wireless network has already been implemented through the WiFi4WB initiative in Podujeva, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Klina, Lipjan, Malisheva, Junik and Vushtrri. This week, it is expected to be extended to 8 other municipalities, with the aim that by the end of August the project will include all 33 applicant municipalities.
New training programs for students have been launched in the fields of artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud technology, network administration and soft skills.
We have also completed the implementation of the radio frequency laboratory within the Centre for Digital Excellence in the Innovation and Training Park in Prizren, which creates a basis for advancing frequency spectrum management and electronic communications.
We have also finalized the implementation of the Single Information Point for Electronic Communications project, which includes the Web GIS system and the advancement of the Electronic Atlas of Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the third phase of the project for the independent non-public 5G network within the Innovation and Training Park in Prizren is being concluded, which is expected to be finalized in November.
In the field of cybersecurity, we have completed the implementation of the first phase of the Government SOC at the Information Society Agency, which includes monitoring and responding to security threats and incidents.
We have operationalized the Cyber Lab for the Cyber Security Agency, as well as the digital training platform for cyber security for civil servants within the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration.
When we are at KIPA, during this period 81 trainings were organized with over 2200 participants – which represents a new dynamic in the development of capacities in public administration. Another novelty is the increased orientation towards e-learning programs.
Regarding the public administration reform, the Government approved the amendment to the law on the rationalization of executive agencies and the establishment of clear lines of accountability. Through this process, 10 cultural heritage institutions are consolidated into a single institution. In the meantime, the third wave of agency rationalization has also begun, which includes 5 ministries.
We have also restarted the recruitment process according to the new regulation on the procedure for admission to the civil service, which guarantees more transparency and meritocracy through the algorithmic selection of admission committees and the new bank of recruitment questions. 47 competitions have already been initiated by the central institutions of the state administration.
We have also established the Council of Ministers for Public Administration Reform and the structures responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the Public Administration Reform.
In the field of state infrastructure, we have inaugurated the new government building in the “New Prishtina” complex, with an area of 4682 m2, which has been given to the Agency for the Protection of Classified Information for use.
We have also inaugurated the new building of the Kosovo Tax Administration in the north of Mitrovica, which will serve citizens with better conditions and more efficient services.
In the field of international cooperation, we have held important high-level meetings with strategic partners in the Republic of Korea, Japan and the countries of the Western Balkans, as well as with partner embassies and international organizations.
Kosovo also actively participated in the first ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans ministers of public administration within the framework of the Berlin Process.
Many of the projects and reforms that we presented today are being implemented with the support of our international partners, including the European Union, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Luxembourg, Japan, South Korea, World Bank and United Nations agencies. For this continued support and partnership, we express our sincere gratitude and appreciation.
The results that we presented today are not just administrative processes or technical projects. They are concrete indicators of the direction we have taken as a government – towards a modern, efficient and citizen-oriented administration, and towards a Kosovo that builds its development on innovation, technology and good governance.
This is just the beginning of a radical transformation that we have embarked on and to which we remain fully committed.
