Warszawa 15. october 1996

Opening of the Centre for Information Technology

Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The opening of the Centre for Information Technology confirms that yet another milestone has been reached in the Polish-Norwegian co-operation. As this project has been partially funded by a Norwegian Action Programme, I am particularly pleased to be here today in my capacity as Norwegian Minister of Trade, and to see for myself the completion of the project.

Information technology is essential in the streamlining of public administration and business life in a modern society. In the early 1990s, most of the countries in transition were in need of information technology for public administration and banking purposes. As Norway has been favoured by political stability, expertise and access to modern computer techology for several decades, it was decided to offer assistance in this field. The first Centre for Information Technology was set up in Prague in cooperation with Czech experts. As the results of the project were encouraging, similar enquiries were addressed to the Polish authorities in 1994. The enquiries revealed considerable competence and advanced application of information technology in Polish society. The authorities nevertheless expressed great interest in the project to develop modern IT-systems for use in public administration.

As you can see for yourselves today, the Centre has been established here in the premises of the System Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Science, in cooperation with the Satellite Services of Telenor International as the Norwegian actor. The equipment has been purchased with the aid of funds from the Norwegian Government. In cooperation with the Institute itself, Telenor International has offered to assist in the running of the Centre and its projects.

It is my hope that the opening of this Centre here today will further inspire cooperation between Poland and Norway in the years ahead. I would like to thank everyone involved on the Polish side for their contribution to the establishement of this Centre, and to ensuring the success of this cooperation. I would also like to convey all my best wishes to the Systems Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Science and Telenor Satellite Services.

Global and regional information networks give us all greater opportunities to interact and learn from each other. Communication, exchange of culture and information and increased transparency are important elements in the never ending development of a democracy in which we can all participate. Thus I feel confident that this project will be of great importance in a broader human perspective as well.

Congratulations on the opening of the Centre.