The Fifth Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Georgia highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, and engagement in relationship between governments and citizens worldwide. The percentage of citizens who trust government is sitting at an average of 43% and is rolling down for the past 10 years.

From 17 to 19 July 2018, 96 participating governments and thousands of civil society organizations shared insights and searched for new ideas on how to strengthen a dialogue and trust between citizens and public and private institutions, fight corruption, deliver quality public services and more actively engage people into decision-making.  

The Summit put a special emphasis on the role of technology in establishing a new social contract between state and citizens. An invited guest-speaker, a humanoid robot Sophia, clearly demonstrated that the future is already at our doorsteps and the artificial intelligence can revolutionize the way governments and citizens communicate today.

Belarus participated with a delegation featuring the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, National Center of Electronic Services and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNDP and was presented as a non-member country.

In Tbilisi the delegation visited the Public Service Hall where customized service and modern technologies turned it into a one-stop shop for all types of government services. A single database allows people to have their passports issued in just one day and to register their property while having a coffee break. The members of the Belarusian delegation met with the Public and Civil registries to learn more about public-sector digitalization and discuss the advantages of the e-government could provide toward meeting citizen demand.