Working language of the meeting will be Ukrainian.

No preliminary registration is required.

The discussion was mainly devoted to the following articles of the Law:

• Article 2 Consent;
• Article 11 Grounds for the Right to Process Personal Data;
• Article 29 International Cooperation.

Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm, Head of the Working Group underlined that the Working Group is finalizing its proposals to the Law.

Please click here to view full text of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” (UKR).

Please click here to view the text of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” with the division by articles (UKR).

Please click here to view the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” that comprises Chamber amendments (UKR).

We would like to thank to Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm for developing an amended version of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”.

We would like to encourage you to provide us with proposals to the Law by including them to the Document that comprises Chamber amendments. Please provide us with your feedback by Friday, February 3^rd, 4:00PM.

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link.

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svitlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (External Relations). 

Please click here to view the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” that comprises Chamber amendments (UKR).

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link.

The discussion was mainly devoted to the following articles of the Law:

• Article 2 Consent;
• Article 11 Grounds for the Right to Process Personal Data;
• Article 24 Protection of the Personal Data in Personal Databases.

Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm, Head of the Working Group, highlighted amendments that should be incorporated to other Legislative acts, mainly to the Law “On Information” simultaneously with amendments to the Law of Ukraine on Personal Data Protection.

The next meeting of the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection is scheduled for Thursday, January 26^th, 2:00PM. The agenda of the meeting will be provided in due course.

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

On December 21^st, 2011 the Chamber IT Committee held its regular meeting that was devoted to a number of issues such as Parliamentary hearings “On Creating Favorable Conditions for IT Industry Development in Ukraine”; impact of simplified tax regime on IT industry; and personal data protection and licenses in IT industry.

The first item of the agenda concerning Parliamentary hearings “On Creating Favorable Conditions for IT Industry Development in Ukraine” was addressed by Mr. Oleg Klimenko, Chamber IT Committee Secretary, Vice President, Incom Company who informed the participants about strong support for adoption of Draft Laws #8267 "On Economic Experiment regarding Creating Favorable Conditions in Ukraine for IT Industry" and #8268 "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding Economic Experiment on Creating Favorable Conditions in Ukraine for IT Industry" made by speakers at Parliamentary hearings.

Mr. Klimenko noted that according to the Draft Law #8267, local supplies of IT services will be exempt from VAT payment. The Draft Law covers only those companies 60% of main activities of which are related to IT industry. This also means double accounting for companies. 

On Thursday, December 22^nd, the Draft Law #8267 was adopted in the first reading by the Verkhovna Rada.  

Mr. Oleg Klimenko assumed that the second reading of this Draft Law may be scheduled for spring 2012 and if adopted the Law will take force on January 1^st, 2013. 

The next item of the agenda regarding recent changes to the simplified tax regime and their impact on IT industry was presented by Mr. Yaroslav Guseynov, PwC. He updated the participants on the Law of Ukraine #4014-VI dated November 4^th, 2011 “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Legislative Acts regarding the Simplified Tax Regime” which comes into force on January 1^st, 2012. The aim of this Law is to develop the simplified tax regime reflecting changes in tax legislation and business environment, and to prevent tax evasion.

The Law introduces a number of major amendments and developments to the Tax Code and other laws, namely by establishing a new model of simplified taxation, accounting and reporting regime for small entrepreneurship; renewal of tax deductibility of expenses incurred by usual CPT-payers in connection with purchase of goods, works and services from individuals - unified tax payers (UTP); termination of the President’s Decree on simplified tax regime of 1998; possibility (according to Mr. Guseynov, not obligation, though the wording is quite vague) to register UTPs as VAT payers.

From January 1^st, 2012 there will be 3 groups for private entrepreneurs and one for legal entities subject to the simplified tax regime. Under new simplified tax regime, tax rate for the 3^rd group of private entrepreneurs will be either 3% from the income +VAT or 5% from the income for non-VAT payers. Moreover, under new rules the object of taxation is income (not turnover). However, according to Mr. Guseynov this does not mean changes for IT industry taxation.

To download the presentation please click here (ENG).

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link.

3.    Other issues.

Mr. Cougar and Mr. Seredynin, ECOMM Co raised the issue of licenses in IT industry and necessary amendments in Ukrainian legislation regarding definitions of software and software provision. Representatives of ECOMM Co agreed to provide Committee Members with their detailed position on this issue in due course. 

The participants also discussed the Draft Law #9624-1 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding  Enhancement of Responsibility for Violation of Legislation on Personal Data Protection" regarding Entry into Force” to be considered at the Verkhovna Rada this week.

According to this Draft Law, strengthening of responsibility for violation of legislation on personal data protection will come into force not on January 1^st, 2012 but within six months from approval and implementation of the Procedure for Personal Data Processing.

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

Mr. Viacheslav Nesterov, Alico Ukraine, PJSC presented amendments to certain provisions of the Law.

The discussion was mainly devoted to the following articles of the Law:

• Article 12. Collecting Personal Data;
• Article 15. Personal Data Abolishment;
• Article 20. Amendments to Personal Data.

Please click here to view the amended Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” with proposals developed by the Working Group Members and discussed during the meeting.

We would like to encourage you to provide us with proposals to the Law by including them in the amended Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”. Please provide us with your feedback by Wednesday, December 14, 2:00PM.

The next meeting of the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection is scheduled for Friday, December 16, 10:00AM.

The agenda of the meeting will be provided in due course.

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

On Tuesday, November 22^nd a meeting of the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection took place.

The agenda of the meeting was devoted to proposals submitted by the Working Group Members to the amended version of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” developed by Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm, including but not limited to:

• Identification of the person;
• Personal data bases that should not be registered;
• Grounds for the rights for personal data processing;  
• Need to develop amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Information”

The version of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” containing proposals agreed by the WG Members will be distributed among Working Group Members at the beginning of the next week. We encourage you to send the proposals you believe should be included in the text.

We would like to thank to Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm for developing an amended version of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”

Please click here to view the Document (UKR).

We would like to thank to Mr. Gorevoy Andriy, Slavutich, Carlsberg Group fordeveloping the definition of the “identification” notion used in the definition of personal data in the Law.

Please click here to view the Document (UKR).

The next meeting of the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection is scheduled for Friday, December 2, 3:00PM.

The agenda of the meeting will be provided in due course.

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

On Wednesday, November 16^th, 2011 the Chamber IT Committee held its regular meeting with participation of Mr. Igor Gavlovskiy, Head of the Department of Accreditation of Centers for Keys Certification, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, which was devoted to introducing digital electronic signature in Ukraine.

The first item of the agenda concerning the current state, prospects, existing problems of digital electronic signature introduction in Ukraine was represented by Mr. Vladyslav Stepanov, “MASTERKEY” Certification Authority.

He informed participants that digital electronic signature is an obligatory requisite of electronic documents, and most important legislative acts regulating electronic documents turnover are the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Digital Signature” and Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Documents and Electronic Documents Circulation”.

The speaker noted that there are no special legislative regulations for activities of centers for certification of keys. Mr. Stepanov also mentioned that there are some inconsistencies between international standards and legislative acts on electronic documents adopted in Ukraine. According to him, digital electronic signature could be used in electronic reporting to regulatory authorities, in the system of electronic document management, and E-commerce.

Mr. Vladyslav Stepanov also updated participants on the activities of “MASTERKEY” Certification Authority. 

To download his presentation please click here (RUS).

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link. 

Mr. Igor Gavlovskiy, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine stressed that according to the Ministry, the transition period for electronic signature introduction should take 12 to 18 months.

Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Associate, Paritet Law Firm made a presentation on “Legal Status of Electronic Documents: Problematic Aspects”. He informed participants on main provisions of the Laws of Ukraine “On Electronic Documents and Electronic Documents Circulation” and “On Electronic Digital Signature”. The speaker noted that real (not formal) matching of electronically signed documents with hard copy documents, as well as abolition of the obligatory presence of digital electronic signature in valid electronic document are needed for effective electronic documents turnover.

Mr. Vadym Shestakov mentioned that the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Commerce” was submitted to Verhovna Rada already in February 2010. According to the speaker, adoption of this Law will have positive effect on the development of electronic commerce in Ukraine however the Law should be modified.

To download his presentation, please click here (UKR).

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

 Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm presented his views on the problematic aspects and on possible ways of improvement of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”.

 Please click here to view the presentation. 

Ms. Lidiya Sangarovska-Gurlach, Legal Alliance Company submitted amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”. 

Please click here to view the above proposals. 

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link.

 In the course of discussion the need was agreed to amend the following provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”: 

• Definition of a consent of the personal data subject (Article 2 of the Law);
• Grounds for the right to process personal data (Article 11.1 of the Law);
• Requirements for notification of personal data subjects (Articles 12(2), 21 of the Law);
• Requirements for Personal Data Databases Registration (Article 9 of the Law);
• Provisions regarding cross-border transfer of personal data (Article 29 of the Law). 

Mr. Andrey Gorevoy, Carlsberg Ukraine kindly agreed to develop the definition of the “identification” notion used in the definition of personal data in the Law.

 Please click here to view the amended Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”, developed by Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Paritet Law Firm.

 We would like to encourage you to provide us with proposals to the Law by including them to the amended Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection”. Please provide us with your feedback by Monday, November 14^th, 3:00PM.

 The next meeting of the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22^nd, 10:00AM.

 The agenda of the meeting will be provided in due course.

 If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber Working Group on Personal Data Protection Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (Committees).

On Thursday, October 13^th, 2011 the Chamber held a Joint IT and HR Committees Meeting devoted to the implementation of the Law "On Personal Data Protection" in HR and IT-Outsourcing areas. The presentation was delivered by Ms. Yuliya Cherkashina, Attorney-at-Law, Senior Associate, Paritet Law Firm and Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Associate, Paritet Law Firm.

 The speakers highlighted the following crucial items:

 1.    Action plan on employee’s personal data protection:

-       Filing of employees’ consents about their personal data processing;

-       Personal data processing procedure;

-       Notification of employees on actions with their personal data;

-       Passing employees’ personal data to the third parties.

 2.    Creation and registration of employees’ personal data bases:

-       What personal data are included into the database?

-       How can be used the personal data from the database?

 3. Cross-border personal data transmission.

 4.    Grounds for liability for the Personal Data Protection Law violation and how to avoid them.

 Please click here to view the Presentation.

 During the Q&A session participants discussed peculiarities of receiving the consent from employees to use their personal data, creation of employees' personal databases, procedures for dealing with personal data of candidates invited to the interview but not being offered jobs, legal requirements for cross-border personal data transmission, etc.

 If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT or HR Committees Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svitlana Burlaka, Chamber Policy Officer (IT Committee) or Yaroslava Marusyk, Chamber Policy Officer (HR Committee) .

To download the minutes of the meeting please click here. 

The agenda was devoted to discussion of the action plan developed by the Committee Leadership during the Strategic Planning Session on September 1^st.   

Please click here to view the action plan for the Chamber IT Committee. 

The first part of the meeting was focused on Draft Laws # 8267 of August 4, 2011 “On Economic Experiment on Favorable Conditions for IT Industry in Ukraine” and #8268 of August 4, 2011 “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding Economic Experiment on Favorable Conditions for IT Industry in Ukraine”. 

Mr. Oleg Klimenko, Chamber IT Committee Secretary, Vice President, Incom Company updated participants on the status of the Draft Laws adoption as well as highlighted the main provisions of the recent versions of the Documents. 

The speaker also informed that submitted Documents was to be discussed during the Round Table “On Establishing Favorable Conditions for Developing IT Industry in Ukraine organized by the State Agency on Science, Innovations and Informatization of Ukraine on September 22, 2011. 

It was decided to participate in the Round Table and present the following Chamber Position: 

• The Chamber supports the initiative of creating a special tax regime for IT industry. Payroll taxes (personal income tax and contributions to state social insurance fund) should be reduced for IT Companies/their employees under this regime.
• The State Tax Service has to monitor economic criteria of IT Companies' eligibility for special tax regime. The STS, however, should not determine the status of IT Companies all by itself.
• The State Agency on Science, Innovations and Informatization of Ukraine that is in charge for IT industry should be an ultimate decision-maker regarding IT companies eligibility for special tax regime and maintain the register of IT Companies. Representatives of IT industry should be involved into the process of taking decisions. For this purpose a public board could be established with the mentioned authority. 

Then Mr. Andrii Suchyk, Co-Chair of the Committee, GlobalLogic Ukraine familiarized participants with decisions, taken at the Strategic planning session on Personal Data Protection, namely creating a cross-committees Working Group on Personal Data Protection. 

Please click here to register to participate. 

The Chamber IT Committee Members also considered further steps in lobbying for unification of e-signature standards (aligned with international ones) to enable practical e-signature use with all Ukrainian institutions, authorities, banks, courts etc. It was agreed to invite relevant state officials responsible for digital electronic signature to the next Chamber IT Committee Meeting, examine the latest legislation in this area, and best world practices. 

The rest of the Meeting was devoted to Tax and Accounting Treatment of IP/Licenses. 

The participants of the Meeting raised the issue on the Draft Law “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine to Support Information Technology in Ukraine” that wasn’t registered and adopted.  The mentioned Draft provided for a new edition of Article 140.1.2. of the Tax Code and partly covered the IP/Licenses issue.   

Please click here to view the Draft Law,  Comparative Table and Explanatory Note.   

The Committee Members agreed to create a separate Working Group to collect the list of problematic issues in this area and elaborate the Chamber position on relevant amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine. 

Please click here to register for participation in the Working Group. We encourage you to share the issues your companies have faced with IP/licenses tax/finance accounting treatment in order to develop a detailed step-by-step plan in this area.  

The next Chamber IT Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, 5:00PM at the Chamber’s Conference Facility (Horizon Park Business Center, 12, Amosova vul., 15 Floor).   

The agenda will be provided in due course.  

We would like to encourage all interested Members to participate in the next Meeting and/or to suggest additional agenda items for discussion at the Meeting.   

On Wednesday, July 27^th, 2011 the Chamber IT Committee held its open meeting, devoted to the personal data protection related issues. The meeting was attended by Mr. Olexiy Mervinskyy, Head of the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Kozak, Deputy Head of the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine, and Ms. Oksana Zolotareva, Head of the Sector for Cooperation with the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. 

Opening the meeting Mr. Andriy Suchyk, GlobalLogic Ukraine, Co-Chair of the Chamber IT Committee, thanked the representatives of the governmental authorities for their readiness to be engaged in an effective dialogue with the foreign investment community in Ukraine, as well as for their personal attendance of the Chamber Committee meetings. 

Mr. Olexiy Mervinskyy made a presentation on “Maintenance and Development of the Institutional System of Personal Data Protection in Ukraine”, in which he outlined the main reasons and legislative basis of the establishment of the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine. He also touched upon the main provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” and the State Service Regulations, as well as upon the functions and tasks assigned to the Service and its structure. 

Mr. Mervinskyy gave extensive information about the state register of personal data, including the respective normative base, its main features and functions, registration procedure of a database, etc.     

To download the presentation please click here (UKR). 

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter your login and password, then return to the Update and click the link. 

Mr. Oleg Astaschkin, member of the Public Council under the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine, updated the participants on the main functions and current activity of this advisory collegiate body, as well as told about the practice of the USA, EU and the Russian Federation in this sphere. 

He encouraged the Chamber members to take part in the Public Council’s activity. 

Mr. Borys Danevych, Partner, PARITET law firm, Co-Chair of the Chamber Healthcare Committee, and Mr. Vadym Shestakov, Associate, PARITET law firm, made a presentation on "Criteria of Personal Data Subject to State Registration and Control: Adequate Enough or Unjustifiably Broad?", in which they presented the main issues, faced by the companies while implementing the current legislation in the sphere of personal data protection. The speakers also specified the possible ways of solving such problems, among which they stressed the following: 

• expansion of legal basis of processing personal data in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC;
• simplification or elimination of the state registration of personal data files that are created solely for the purpose of employment. 

To download the presentation please click here (UKR). 

The second part of the meeting was devoted to the Q&A session, during which the participants and governmental officials discussed the most common problems, faced by companies while registering their databases, as well as other uncertainties of the current legislation. 

Mr. Volodymyr Kozak underlined that the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine was open for receiving proposals regarding the improvement of normative acts that regulate this sphere, and for continuing the dialogue with the Chamber member companies.     

Taking into account that not all members of the Chamber could attend the Chamber Open It Committee meeting but were interested in receiving information regarding personal data protection it was transmitted online. 

To listen the speech of Mr. Olexiy Mervinskyy, Head of the State Service on Personal Data Protection of Ukraine, please click here and watch the Chamber TV.  

To download the minutes please click here. 

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Bykova, Chamber Committee Coordinator.

On Monday, June 20^th the Chamber IT Committee held its regular meeting that was devoted to a number of questions, such as ICT’s role in developing the knowledge economy and first IT-industrial Park in Ukraine. 

The first item of the agenda concerning the ICT's role in developing the knowledge economy and results of the interactive discussion: driving Ukraine's competitiveness through XXI century solutions was represented by Mrs. Courtney Zukoski, Microsoft Ukraine. 

She told the participants about the Chamber and Microsoft joint event that was held on June 7, 2011 and designed to highlight opportunities to improve Ukraine’s competitiveness through the 21^st century solutions. It was attended by Mr. Sergiy Tigipko, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy of Ukraine, and Mr. Orlando Ayala, Microsoft Corporate Vice President – Chairman of Emerging Markets. During this event it was presented an analytical report “The Role of Information and Communications Technology in National Competitiveness”, which was prepared in the framework of the Chamber annual analytical product entitled “Partnership for Successfully Competing in the Global Economy”. The aim of this publication is to increase the awareness of the ICT’s role in national competitiveness as today country’s competitiveness depends upon the technological progress that has become a powerful driver of social and economic development and contains an overview of the current status of this sector as well as recommendations to improve Ukraine’s competitiveness with the help of ICT. This report touches upon the three main areas, such as the e-government, e-skills and ICT’s role in education, and contains ten strict recommendations to the government of Ukraine how to use ICT in order to increase competitiveness of the country. 

To read more about the event, please click here. 

To download the analytical report “The Role of Information and Communications Technology in National Competitiveness”, please click here for English and here for Ukrainian. 

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link. 

The meeting attendees, who participated in the abovementioned event, shared their impressions and appreciated it. They also discussed the key problems that prevent e-government from developing in the country, including the absence of the person in the government responsible for the e-government implementation and clear governmental plan (program) in this regard. 

Mr. Declan Gordon Carroll, Greenpickle International Ltd., made a presentation titled “Advantages of the companies’ deployment in the ІТ- industrial park”, in which he touched upon the current issues and needs in this sphere. He said that unfortunately IT and science parks were not very much developed in Ukraine and official statistics in this regard didn’t correspond to the reality. The speaker listed the main aspects, why the development of ICT in Ukraine can increases its national and business opportunities.  Among the reasons why we should focus on the development of IT he stressed the following: IT and software are critical to the global competitiveness of many industries; it supports critical elements of the knowledge economy; it represents the single sector where the country can quickly build a globally competitive industry which is fundamental to future economic and political stability.

Mr. Declan Gordon Carroll also explained to the participants why we need the technology parks and why the innovation infrastructure is important, what benefits the companies can receive from such parks. He underlined that the establishment of an ICT Technology Park and associated Cluster could help to improve the competiveness and effectiveness of existing business and stimulate the creativity and innovation necessary for future sector success and new innovative enterprise creation.

To download his presentation, please click here (ENG).

Mr. Denys Shupta, iPark, IT & Software Development Centre, made a presentation on “Construction of the first ІТ- industrial park in Ukraine” in which he told about the concept of iPark, its activities, as well as provided detailed information about the services that would be available for the renting companies.

To download his presentation about the project “iPark”, please click here (UKR).

Please click here to view the Minutes of the Meeting (ENG). 

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Bykova, Chamber Committee Coordinator.

Opening the meeting Mr. Andrii Suchyk, Co-Chair of the Committee, GlobalLogic Ukraine, informed the participants about the agenda that was devoted to e-government and tax legislation for IT industry related issues.

Ms. Irina Volk, Secretary of the Committee, updated the participants on the results of E-Government Days held by the National Academy for Public Administration on May 16-20, 2011. She informed the attendees about the participants and most interesting events held within these five days.

To download the agenda of the E-Government Days, please click here (UKR).

As a result of this event the participants identified the initial steps towards implementing e-government agenda and developing the electronic education in the context of modernization of Ukraine, ensuring access to the public information and innovative projects in libraries, as well as implementing e-government in the central executive bodies.

The representatives of Microsoft Ukraine spoke in the capacity of international IT-experts and presented the company’s vision of the initial steps towards implementing e-government in Ukraine which include the following:

• to consider signing the second part of the Program on promoting information security in the country with the aim of creating national security center to prevent attempts of interfering with public information systems or interrupting their operations;
• to consider providing larger budgetary funding for the use of information technology by the governmental bodies of all levels in order to develop the infrastructure needed for electronic government functioning;
• to recognize information technology as a necessary tool for providing accelerated transition to a ‘service model’ of executive power in the state;
• to develop a concept of providing national services for the population via the use of advanced information technologies;
• to establish a single center for electronic keys in order to standardize and disseminate electronic signature and e-services for population, and increase productivity of civil servants.

To download the proposals of Microsoft Ukraine please click here (UKR).

She also advised that the participants of the E-Government Days agreed that among the important factors which impede the application of advanced information technologies for public services there were insufficient funding and low qualifications of the state officials engaged in the information technologies sphere, especially at the regional level.

As a result of the E-Government Days the participants adopted the Resolution that was addressed to the President’s Administration, Parliament of Ukraine and other executive bodies involved.

To download the Resolution, please click here (UKR).

If you have any questions or suggestions concerning the above-mentioned documents regarding the E-Government Days, please contact Svetlana Bykova, Committee Coordinator. 

The attendees of the IT Committee meeting decided to consider holding a meeting or a conference under the aegis of the Chamber devoted to the implementation of the e-government in Ukraine in order to update the Chamber company members and governmental authorities on the best international practices of e-governance. The expected date of the event is September.

We would like to encourage you to provide your feedback concerning this initiative and share with us the case studies on the best international practices in implementing e-government by Friday, June 3, 12:00PM.

Mr. Andrii Suchyk updated the participants on the tax legislation for IT industry. He told that there was an initiative of providing favorable conditions for the development of IT-industry in Ukraine that envisage a decrease in income tax rates for individuals working in IT companies and reduce taxes in retirement fund. At the moment the most important issue in this initiative is to develop a mechanism for providing benefits and preventing corruption schemes. In this regard it was proposed to establish a business association, a self-regulating organization, and give it the right to determine the companies that will enjoy the benefits. However, views on such a mechanism are ambiguous.

Mr. Sergiy Tigipko, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of the Social Policy of Ukraine, has initiated a meeting of the working group that elaborated the following principles of this self-regulating organization, which were the following:

• free membership;
• the right to conduct audits of companies claiming  tax benefits.

The participants also discussed the consequences of renewal of VAT for IT-industry and agreed on the action plan for the IT Committee. It was also decided to monitor the new legislative initiatives relating to the IT sector.

Please click here to view the Minutes of the Meeting (ENG). 

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Bykova, Chamber Committee Coordinator.

A guest-speaker Ms. Svitlana Chukut, Chief, Department of International Policy of the National Academy for Public Administration, in her presentation title “E-Government Days” informed the participants about the history and aim of this event, as well as about the agenda for this year. 

During her presentation she emphasized that the aim of holding this event is to contribute to the implementation of e-governance as a necessary condition for successful reform, review the leading international practice and present the best practices in this sphere made by the relevant state bodies and local authorities in Ukraine. Ms. Svitlana Chukut also told that deputy heads and heads of the departments, responsible for implementing e-government in central executive bodies and regional administrations, would participate in the event this year. 

She informed the participants about the preliminary agenda of the event and invited all interested companies and organizations take part in it. 

As a result of the discussions held during E-Government Days the participants will prepare recommendations concerning the proposals on implementing e-governance in Ukraine that will be sent to the responsible governmental authorities. 

If you want to participate in E-Government Days or receive detailed information on the terms of participation, please contact Ms. Svitlana Chukut, Chief, Department of International Policy of the Academy. 

To download her presentation, please click here (UKR). 

Please keep in mind that you have to be logged into the Chamber SharePoint prior to accessing the documents. In order to access the document, please enter you login and password, then return to the Update and click the link. 

The second item of the agenda was devoted to the latest developments in the tax legislation for IT industry. 

Covering this subject Mr. Andrii Suchyk, GlobalLogic Ukraine, Co-Chair of the Committee, in his presentation “Review of the IT related bills” informed the participants about two drafts law concerning the creation of favorable conditions for the development of software products industry in Ukraine. The first one is registered in the Parliament under the number 8267 dated 18.03.2011, it was elaborated with the participation of “IT Ukraine” Association. 

He showed the difference between the bills especially with regards to tax remissions, approaches to defining the criteria for IT companies and order of obtaining such privileges. 

To download his presentation, please click here (RUS). 

Please provide your feedback regarding these drafts by Thursday, April 21, 6PM.  

The participants of the meeting were also informed that the Chamber schedules to hold on the 24^th of May the next in the series of events entitled "Insights into Investing in the Regions with the Chamber" delivered by Kharkov Regional State Administration. One point of the agenda will be devoted to the Kharkov Regional Project “IT-park Intellectronika” developed by the Regional Agency of Economic Development of the Kharkov Region.

Please click here to view the Minutes of the Meeting (ENG). 

If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Bykova, Chamber Committee Coordinator.

On Tuesday, March 15^th, 2011 the Chamber IT Committee held its regular Meeting. 

The agenda of the Meeting was focused on the discussion of the following issues: 

During the Meeting the participants were updated on E-Government Working Group activity and on the further intention to participate in the E-Government Seminar organized by the National Academy for public Administration in May. 

The second item of the agenda was dedicated to the Technical Regulation “On Electromagnetic Compatibility of Equipment” approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine #785 dated July 29^th, 2009. The Technical Regulation entered into force on January 1^st, 2011. However, the rules of the Regulation do not meet neither European Union Directive on electromagnetic compatibility (Directive 2004/108/EC EU), nor Ukrainian standards. Moreover, some provisions of the Technical Regulations are impossible to be implemented neither by enterprises as market participants, nor by the relevant authorities of conformity assessment. In this regard, the Association of Information Technology Enterprises of Ukraine appealed to the Government and other central executive authorities with certain suggestions regarding the improvement of the situation.

Please click here to see the Letter from Association of Information Technology Enterprises of Ukraine. 

Please provide your feedback regarding the Technical Regulation by Tuesday, March 22, 6PM. 

The third item of the agenda was devoted to the discussion of the issue of personal data protection and Amendments to the Law of Ukraine #2297-17 “On Personal Data Protection”. 

The participants agreed to coordinate the further steps of the Chamber IT Committee in that regards with other Committees concerned by the issue and set up the Working Group on Personal Data protection to elaborate Chamber Position on the above-mentioned Law. 

Please click here to register for participation in the Working Group and to give your opinion regarding the Law in order to collect the list of more problematic issues. 

The participants were invited to take part in the Chamber Knowledge Seminar on Personal Data Protection to be delivered by Chamber Member PARITET Law Firm on the topic of "Personal Data Protection: the Ukrainian Way." The event is scheduled for Thursday, 24^th, 2011.

Please click here to download Minutes of this Chamber IT Committee Meeting.

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If you or one of your colleagues would like to participate in the Chamber IT  Committee Meetings and receive informational updates, please feel free to contact Svetlana Bykova, Chamber Committee Coordinator.