Filenews 9 December 2022
The digital transition projects focus on promoting digital governance, said Stelios Winter, Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
On behalf of the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Kyriakos Kokkinos, the Director General of the Deputy Ministry Stelios Winter focused in his greeting on the digital component for achieving the sustainability and development goals, which are also addressed by the largest part of the "Cyprus-Tomorrow" Plan.
He noted that the digital transition projects focus on the promotion of digital governance in order to significantly reduce and gradually eliminate the need for physical presence and to enable the processing of transactions between citizens and businesses with the state and between them, in projects that promote the transition to fiber optic networks that are considered more environmentally friendly, but also in the utilization of new technologies, such as 5G, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, composing an ecosystem of technological and business innovation that will strengthen all sectors.
In particular, he noted that 5G technology is essential for autonomous and networked driving, while it is expected to significantly improve road safety through connected vehicles that will be able to exchange information in real time, monitor traffic and avoid any incidents.
In the above context, the national effort made by the Deputy Ministry for the development of Smart Cities throughout Cyprus is also included, continued Mr. Winter, a project of the order of 35 million euros. euro that has been included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan and which utilizes technological solutions and digital data to address key challenges facing Cypriot cities today (pollution, energy consumption, citizen participation).
On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis, the First Environment Officer Lakis Mesimeris referred in his greeting to the new legislative regulations on the additional cost of conventional fuels, with the inclusion of road transport, buildings, aviation and maritime transport in a greenhouse gas emissions trading system, a cost that will be borne by the economy mainly through increased fares.
An ally in this effort is the existence of financial tools and several other issues that should be taken into account as of now, added Mr. Mesimeris, adding that in cooperation with the co-competent ministers, it was possible to recognize specific peculiarities of Cyprus and to ensure appropriate tools to address the challenges, such as the recognition of the isolated system and the favorable regulation for sustainable aviation fuels.
