"Our citizens and business already have more than 1000 information sources available online from the state administration and many electronic services from public authorities,“ explained NRW Interior Minister Dr. Ingo Wolf on 18 October. "The Cabinet has now adopted Action Plan 2009, through which we will be taking a further big step forward in the development of eGovernment.”
Running from 2006 to 2009, the plan provides for the electronic lodging of applications with local authorities, as well as electronic authorisation and participation procedures. Also envisaged are information and knowledge management measures and communications platforms. NRW has already stepped up cooperation on eGovernment solutions with the German federal authorities, the states and local administrations. It also plays an important part in the “Deutschland-Online” initiative decided jointly by the federal and state heads of government.
The plan encompasses a targeted expansion of eGovernment infrastructure to meet new demands such as Voice over IP. "Effective infrastructure may not always be immediately visible from the outside,“ Wolf said, “but it has a decisive influence on the quality of our eGovernment offer.” The plan would increase NRW’s appeal as a place to do business, he added. It is guided by “the users’ needs” and will enable “faster and more efficient processing.”
