Macedonian Government has invited domestic information technology companies to take part in the preparation of software for the planned procurement of 300.000 tablets, that will be given to school-kids across the country. During a meeting with representatives of IT companies, Information Society and Public Administration Minister Ivo Ivanovski said that the Government wants these companies to be prepared for the coming major demand for educational software, as well as software for different other institutions that would make their services more accessible to the public.

"We are working on several packages in the segment financed by the European Union IPA program. We have already applied to the European Union for funding for a number of electronic services. We will work to improve the system of inter-operability, where two upgrades are already under way", Minister Ivanovski said.

Macedonia already had a program that introduced computers at all levels of public education. The new program, Ivanovski said on Tuesday, will expand this practice with 300.000 tablets, which will begin to be introduced since August.

"The project is being analyzed and we are working the design the entire eco-system in which these tablets will be used. Currently we don't have a set budgetary frame because we are not talking only about hardware but software as well. We hope to see Macedonian companies actively engaged in training of teachers and all necessary equipment that will be used to modernize our schools. The technical documentation for the project should be finished by June and the procurement procedure should start by August", Ivanovski added.

Sasha Ognenovski, chairman of the IT chamber in the Union of Chambers of Commerce, said that the companies he represents are also greatly interested in the application of the law on archives, that should reduce paperwork for small and medium enterprises.

"Any chance to open more business would be welcome. We expect this to bring new improvements for the companies in Macedonia and we hope to see as many domestic companies included as possible", Ognenovski said. His chamber also works with the Ministry in a project to provide computers to socially vulnerable groups.