competitiveness is government support in the use of in education services, facilitating citizen to business-to- government transactions and public sector of ICT reforms, and promoting participation and government transactions. By one estimate, business in developing countries spend about 20% of their revenues on transactions with governments, including accessing information and forms, applying for permits, and submitting taxes. An effective and transparent government is a critical ingredient in a competitive business climate and an attractive investment environment. A recent pilot to modernize tax administration in accountability. Recent emphases on poverty analysis oriented and on mainstreaming development results- programs have reinforced the need for relevant, reliable and timely information for policy formulation and program implementation and adaptation. As suggested earlier, ICT can also be deployed to extend access and improve quality of education, health and other social services. Russia (assisted with World Bank financing) The has introduced ICT-enabled transformation in government transactions (C2G) has inspired the with many governments to innovate one-stop, businesses and citizens, eliminated the long single window services, such as Singapore’s lines for tax submissions, drastically cut all eCitizen, kinds government into their broader public sector administration’s of interactions transaction costs, closed promise and of improving to integrate citizen to electronic opportunities for corruption, and at the same reforms. time, raised the badly needed tax revenues. modest bottom up initiatives such as land The second overarching national goal in many developing countries such as Belize is reducing poverty and accelerating human development. ICT could support poverty reduction strategies by informing policy making, delivering effective health and Even less integrated and more record computerization in Karnataka, India, have delivered land certificates in 15 minutes, instead of 20-30 days, and in the process, reduced transaction costs and corruption, created a viable land market, enhanced the creditworthiness of farmers, and improved the life of the common man. A major opportunity for using ICT in poverty reduction is to provide information and knowledge to rural populations and to empower local development agents to serve the poor. A variety of informational and connectivity advantages Belize ICT National Strategy 18