Economic and good governance challenges through lenses of open data and digital tools focus of OSCE webinar

The role of open data and digital tools in enhancing good governance and anti-corruption mechanisms in the context of current economic challenges was the focus of a virtual webinar organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) on 9 October 2020.

More than one hundred representatives of civil society organizations, businesses, chambers of commerce and business associations from the OSCE region as well as other international organizations discussed the potential of open data in enhancing good governance measures and economic recovery post-COVID-19.

Ambassador James S. Gilmore, Permanent Representative of the United States to the OSCE said during the opening remarks: ‘Preventing and combating corruption is, and should remain, a key pillar of the OSCE. I welcome the Albanian Chairmanship’s strong commitment to addressing the challenge of corruption, promoting accountability and transparency in governance. Rooting out corruption improves the business environment and reinforces the trust of citizens in their government. We all seek sustained economic growth, prosperity, and security across the region. These are all key ingredients in an economic recovery.”

“Connectivity is the key to create sustainable long-term benefits for consumers, citizens and the environment. Powerful digital networks can generate jobs and give people access to workplaces, schools and health care, thus helping to close the digital divide,“ said the Director for Technology, Trade, Finance, Policies and Investment Promotion at the German Federal Foreign Office, Ambassador Alexander Schoenfelder.

“Without effective prevention of corruption, sustainable investments in projects to strengthen trade, transport and connectivity are doomed to failure,” said the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Vuk Žugić. Transparency is essential for the foreign direct investments and for societies, he said, to be able to look to the future with confidence. “In today’s interconnected world, this is essential.” 

The sessions provided an overview of the challenges and needs of economies in Central Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the policy response measures and the role of open data in these processes and how open data and digital platforms can support good governance and economic recovery. Participants looked into trends and opportunities in the fields of digitalization and open procurement, trade, supply chains, beneficial ownership, etc. The webinar served as a kick-off discussion for a series of capacity building seminars on open data and digital platforms aimed at strengthening good governance measures and improving the business climate.   

The kick-off webinar and the series of subsequent capacity building seminars are organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Promoting Good Governance and Enhancing Anti-Corruption Efforts in the OSCE Area through the Use of Open Data and New Digital Technologies”, funded by Germany and the United States of America.