Ashgabat is hosting a five-day training on key areas of digitalization in public services as part of the joint project "Strengthening the capacity of the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan" implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan.

The purpose of the event, which is held in a hybrid format, is to build the capacity of the Academy teachers in the field of digital transformation and increase the efficiency of public administration, the provision of public services through the introduction of digital technologies.

The seminar is attended by teachers of the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan and undergraduate students studying public administration issues.

The speaker of the seminar was Viktor Dostov, Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics, Scientific Director of the Center for Distributed Registry Technologies of St. Petersburg State University (SPSU), Chairman of the Council of the Association of Participants

The participants were introduced to the general principles of digitalization in the public sector, the principles of digital interaction between government agencies and the commercial sector, as well as global and local prospects for digitalization.

Akmurat Danatarov, UNDP Program Analyst on Governance, Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth, noted:

"This event is of particular importance for the development of the system of civil servants of Turkmenistan within the framework of the national policy on digital transformation, which is especially important during the ongoing global pandemic."

The seminar is organized as part of joint efforts to solve the problems provided for by the Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2019-2025 and the State Program for the Development of the Digital Economy for 2021-2025 and will last until December 24.

It is expected that within the framework of the joint project "Strengthening the potential of the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan" a certificate program will be developed and implemented to improve the professional qualifications of civil servants and cooperation with international partners will be established in priority areas of development of public authorities and local governments in the context of digital transformation, according to a UNDP press release.