WASHINGTON, February 21, 2017 – Improved quality and accessibility of selected government administrative services and enhanced transparency of the public administration are two main goals for the new US$80 million loan approved today by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors. Citizens seeking services from the national government will benefit from a new single online entry point, which will increase the ease of completing key administrative procedures.
The “Modernization and Innovation for Better Public Services in Argentina Project” will also create a digital citizen profile, which will unify information submitted online by citizens to avoid unnecessary re-entry of data, while a digital assistance program will help those citizens who lack internet to access digital services.
“In today's world, citizens have all types of information at their fingertips; government services should be there too. This financing will allow us to modernize public services so citizens can, more efficiently and effectively, access online the information they need from the government, ” said Andrés Ibarra, Minister of Modernization.
For small and medium-size enterprises in Argentina, the project will develop online transaction tools that allow processes to be completed remotely, decreasing significantly the time and travel currently needed to carry out many of these requirements manually.
“These improvements will save time and money for citizens and increase productivity for small business,” said Jesko Hentschel, World Bank Director for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. “Efficient public services strengthen governance and improve the business climate, which in turn foster sustainable growth and job creation.”
Government transparency will also be enhanced through the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy for open government and open data including a new public procurement system that includes a unified registry of providers and enhanced public access to information. These measures, along with an updated asset declaration system of the Anti-Corruption Office, will help to respond to inquiries and corruption allegations more efficiently.
The US$80 million World Bank loan is flexible with a variable spread and a 32.5-year total maturity period, including a 7-year grace period.
