The event “From Planning to Implementation” organized by “Information Society” was held on Monday, 20 May, at the auditorium of the Benaki Museum. It was attended by a large number of people and was a great success.
During his welcome speech,the President of “Information Society”, Mr. Dimitris Askounis, focused on a phrase which is “key” for the company and its leading role in the digital development of the country, and noted: “Our company’s mission statement has to guide our actions and provide a decision making pathway. So we have found that mission statement in a phrase which has actually been the foundation of our multipurpose action… #TransformingGreece Greece is moving forward to the new era. This phrase has represented and still represents the “promise” that we have made. It is a promise to institutions, citizens and businesses, our partners, our human resources”.
Mr. Askounis detailed the projects and actions implemented by “Information Society”, and concluded: “We have to keep ‘running an ever-lasting sprint’. This is the way to succeed based on the three pillars of our successful course to date: the excellent cooperation with our ministry, our amazing human resources, our honest and direct communication with the institutions”.
After the event the guests were given the opportunity to watch a documentary and “take a small trip to the digital progress of Greece” through projects implemented by “Information Society”.
The projects included in the video were the following:
- Development of public infrastructure “Syzefxis II”
- Installation of remote hearing systems
- Single Government Cloud (G-Cloud)
- Modernization of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service
- Modernization and upgrading of European number 112
- Digital Fire Alert and Response Service
- Youth Pass:
- Management of the cultural reserve of the Philatelic and Postal Museum
- Acropolis digital museum
- Personal assistant for people with disabilities
Subsequently, the Director of Communication of the company, Ms. Eleni Dede, presented the “Survey on Satisfaction of Institutions and Partners of ‘Information Society’” according to the results of which the majority of the 85 participants (84%) believe, inter alia, that the projects implemented by “Information Society” contribute to improving the administrative capacity of the public administration.
The Managing Director of “Information Society”, Mr. Stavros Asthenidis, underlined the decisive role of the company in the digital transition of the country. More specifically, he stressed that “from 2019 to date, we have announced more than 280 tenders, we have made a decisive contribution to the implementation of actions of state aid for citizens and businesses and we have paid about 2.5 billion to contractors and beneficiaries”.
He also added that “we are managing about 390 projects at various maturity levels and we are speeding up for a further call concerning 50 projects in the coming months. In addition, we are, of course, leading the way in the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Greece 2.0, being responsible for 80 projects and actions”.
In his conclusion, Mr. Asthenidis set the tone for the next day: “We really seek to be part of every action that strengthens the course and the role of the country in the digital future. We are fighting to make our country better in terms of digitalization, not only for the next day but for the generations to come. The vision of the country that we started to implement in 2019 through our plans and the results you see today are basically a “future Greece”, a “Greece for our children”. After all, according to Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet “οur most beautiful days we haven’t seen yet. And the most beautiful words I wanted to tell you I haven’t said yet.” So, likewise, the greatest plans are the ones which we are expected to implement.
During his welcome speech, the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr Konstantinos Kyranakis, pointed out as follows: “I would like to thank Stavros Asthenidis and all the members of ‘Information Society’ for their daily struggle that they in fact make at much quicker pace than the average of the public administration, having very high demands and expectations, as well as a great responsibility for the use of public money. Without ‘Information Society’, the digital transformation projects could not be implemented. Therefore, we would like to strengthen this cooperation as much as possible, so that the citizens can realize every day that what we do has a result, makes sense and really matters”.
The Minister of Digital Governance, Mr Dimitris Papastergiou, who “closed” the event stressed, among other things, that: “Information Society is a key pillar in the digital transformation of the State, as it has valuable and multi-annual experience and is staffed by remarkable executives. We all work every single day, with a sense of responsibility, finding solutions to all identifies problems, in order to comply with the timetables and make the most of the valuable resources of the Recovery Fund and the NSRF. Seeking to create a brighter digital Greece, we will continue to implement important projects and reforms for the benefit of citizens and entrepreneurship”.
The event was attended as well by the Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ms. Vivi Charalampogianni, the Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance, Mr. Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, and a number of representatives of public administration bodies.
