The forum is being organized by the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI). Specialists from the Russian Federal Agency for Information Technologies will participate in the event.

“The goal of the conference is to boost introduction of electronic document circulation with use of digital signature, identification of existing problems and exchange of experience,” head of software industry department of UzACI Faizulla Agzamov told UzA.

Uzbekistan is currently implementing the Program of computerization and ICT development until 2010, which outlines the main directions of state policy in this field. They include extensive use of ICT by state bodies, creation of automated information systems and resources, interaction of state bodies and citizens and businesses through ICT, introduction of e-commerce and development of e-payment mechanisms.

During 2003-2004, laws on digital signature and electronic document circulation were passed, which laid a foundation for the development of the sector in the country. These documents give the legal power to the e-documents having the e-signature.

“To ensure practical implementation of the e-signature, UzACI developed corresponding legal acts, rules and standards regulating technical aspects of e-signature infrastructure,” Agzamov said.

There are currently three e-signature keys registration centers in Uzbekistan, two of which are state centers and one is private. The total number of issued e-signature keys certificates makes up more than 10,000.

“Use of e-document circulation in state management will increase the efficiency of working with documents, as well as reduce costs,” Agzamov added.

Among the currently implemented projects in the e-document sphere are projects of submission of reports by statistics and tax bodies.