BY: LILIAN AGOSTO
Security, technology implementation in the agencies, and emphasis on collaboration in the industry were three of the main issues addressed by representatives of the Government of Puerto Rico at the CIO & IT Leadership Conference of the Puerto Rico Information Technology Cluster.
Several government leaders presented their main missions with the idea of promoting Puerto Rico as a destination for the technology sector and creating a governance structure emphasizing this industry.
Collaboration between sectors
Ricardo Rosselló emphasized the collaboration of all sectors to improve the country in a creative and transformative way.
[tweet_box design=»box_09″ float=» none»]. «For me, it is indispensable that we can count on technology and scientific knowledge so that we can do great things. Our government will be open, and we want to listen to this sector to help us grow. We do not want to be a further obstacle. Technology and innovation is the opportunity to create a better Puerto Rico.» -@RicardoRossello.[/tweet_box]
The secretary of the Department of Economic Development of Puerto Rico (DDEC), Manuel Laboy, said that it is relevant for the country to become a destination for the technology industry. For this reason, he emphasized promoting changes that strengthen incentive laws for small and medium-sized traders.
Security in cyberspace
Cybersecurity is one of the biggest concerns, said Luis Arocho, Chief Information Officer of Puerto Rico. For this reason, Arocho specified that the government should have technological specialists from various branches such as education, health, contracts, and security, among others. According to Arocho, education and health are two priorities that the CIO is working with in the area of technology.
[tweet_box design=»box_09″ float=»none»]»We are working on a platform integration for the use of teachers and students.» -@laarocho[/tweet_box]
Integration of agencies
Both Arocho and Rosselló detailed the importance of having trained personnel to strengthen government implementation. That is why they both named Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Services (PRITS) as a response to the integration of agencies with local talent support and skills.
«We have created the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Services to have a group of the best minds inside and outside the government who can collaborate on different topics. This, for me, is urgent and indispensable,» Rosselló said.
For his part, Angel Quiñones, director of Deloitte Consulting LLP, said that the possibility of making innovations in the governance structure is fundamental to develop improvements in agencies.
[tweet_box design=»box_09″ float=»none»]»Digitizing a government is not about putting things on the Internet, it’s more than that. It’s about changing the way things are done.» -Angel Quiñones[/tweet_box]
Quiñones said that leadership, organization, and management are the keys to success in a technological implementation at the governmental level.