MaSSSoftech

The Government announced on September 16 the closure of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communication (SAITC) and the simultaneous creation of a executive agency Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems (ECNIS).

The new agency is under the direct responsibility of the Transport, IT and Communications Ministry, a government media statement said.

ECNIS was to develop, integrate, maintain, administer and manage electronic communications networks for the needs of national security, as well as executive and local authorities, Bulgarian news agency BTA quoted the government statement as saying.
ECNIS would also provide electronic communications for disaster management under the Law on Disaster Protection.

The decision for the closure of SAITC, a consequence of Government policy to replace state agencies, which are independent from ministries, with executive agencies that are under the direct ministerial responsibility, was part of a decision on the new structure of the Transport, IT and Communications Ministry. The ministry will open new departments called Communications, e-Government and Information Technology.

After the changes at the ministry, its administrative staff will be reduced by 11 per cent, BTA said.