The Italian government and the World Bank have agreed to
invest $12m in an information technology system for the Iraqi civil
service.
"The technical details are still being worked out," the
spokesman said. "This is part of a G8 programme to promote
e-government in developing countries."
Italian innovation minister Lucio Stanca announced the
project following a meeting in Rome with World Bank chairman James
Wolfensohn.
"The situation in Iraq is very difficult, but we have developed
a project with the World Bank to create a network for the central
government, with some other applications such as a general
accounting system and a population registry," Stanca said.
The Italian Foreign Ministry's international co-operation
programme will contribute up to $3m, with the rest provided by
international development organisations including the Development
Gateway Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to
improving government efficiency in developing countries supported
by the World Bank and the United Nations.
The security situation in Iraq will have to be stabilised before
the project can be implemented.
Italy has been given a leading role in G8 projects to promote
the use of information communication technology (ICT) in the
developing world. Among the initiatives being supported by Italy
are projects for electronic accounting and e-procurement in Jordan,
an electronic payments system to reduce the influence of drug money
on Panama's economy and an electronic tax programme for
Uruguay.
Philip Willan writes for IDG News
Service