NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN Technology and applications In the part referring to network technologies, it is necessary to envisage the aspects of access, connectivity, security, management, upgrading, network expansion and user support. Human resources Apart from the technology development in infrastructure, a continuous development of the ICTstaff that manages and administers that infrastructure, is necessary. All state and local institutions should appoint a person or a team responsible for monitoring and implementation of the Strategy, for development of infrastructure and public services, for co-operation with the Information Society Agency and the other institutions responsible for implementation of the Strategy and of the projects. There is a lack of professional managers within the institutions, who will take care of the professional upgrading of the employees, of the training and education needs, of monitoring the training success. The management staff should be trained in order to use the information-communication technologies in its day-to-day operations, as well as to create favourable climate for greater use of technologies by the employees in their daily activities and communication. ICT- development priorities One of the basic priorities in the infrastructure development is the establishment of a backbone electronic communications network at the level of the Republic of Macedonia, which will connect all public and Governmental institutions. Given that infrastructure development is a long-term process, the construction of this network would be conducted in phases. According to the Action Plan, till 2007, the priority is to build a central network that will connect all ministries, Governmental institutions and agencies at a physical level, and at a level of applications, as well as for data exchange. The development of this network would be simultaneous with the development of projects from the Action Plan regarding the other pillars for e-education, e-health and e-citizens. Infrastructure development in public and Governmental institutions should contribute towards more efficient and cost-effective services for the citizens. Application usage shall contribute to redesigning of operational processes, introduction of project management for more efficient usage of the infrastructure and the services, as well as for more efficient and transparent functioning of the public administration. The National infrastructure development is to enable regional interconnection for the purposes of development of a regional e-business environment, and is also to provide access to services in the rural and underdeveloped areas in the country. It is also necessary to focus the activities on the development of human and institutional capacities, in order to secure prompt and efficient methods for responding to the requests of the rapid technological development through expert and other type of training, as well as high education for achieving the necessary competencies and skills. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN 17