Starting from January 1, 2019, individuals and organizations engaging in business dealings with governmental agencies through electronic means, such as in the context of public procurement, will be required to use a qualified electronic signature and/or attach a qualified electronic stamp to electronic documents.
The use of a qualified electronic stamp and a qualified electronic signature ensures a high level of document security. In particular, their application in an electronic document, based on a recent change, enhances its trustability and security. Furthermore, the applicant benefits from the ability to save time, overcome distance and certify a document or sign a contract from anywhere in the world.
Soso Giorgadze – the Chairperson of the Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice hosted an information session with media representatives regarding the topic of qualified and trust services. During the session, he informed reporters about the significance of applying an electronic qualified stamp and electronic signature on electronic documents. Soso Giorgadze emphasized that such use enhances the security of documents. At the session, the Chairperson of the Public Service Development Agency reported on the Agency’s information campaign to disseminate information about the initiative to the public and presented an informative video.
The Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice has undergone an audit by an internationally recognized auditing firm, in compliance with the requirements of applicable law. As a result of this audit, the Agency has received permission to continue providing high-quality, trust services starting from July 1. The Agency intends to continue undergoing such audits in the future, which serves as a guarantee of the trustability of its certified documents.
More information on qualified electronic stamp and qualified electronic signatures:
The significance of qualified trust services – the development and implementation of electronic systems significantly reduces the flow of paper-based documentation and improves the security of documents. Given that administrative authorities have gradually transitioned to electronic processes in recent years and documents are now predominantly created in electronic format, it has been determined that electronic documents must be treated as if they were original documents and must be certified with an appropriate electronic stamp.
A qualified electronic signature and qualified electronic stamp are reliable methods of verifying the authenticity of an electronic document.
Stringent standards of document security – a qualified electronic signature accurately verifies the identity of the signer and protects the signed document from unauthorized alterations. Another benefit of an electronic document is its near-impossibility to be forged. The creation of such documents follows strict security protocols. Specifically, the document is safeguarded against manipulation – any changes to a signed document cannot be made unnoticeably.
Benefits, Time and Resource Savings – With the development of e-Government, administrative costs are significantly reduced and green spaces and the environment are conserved. Citizens and organizations save time by submitting electronic documents to private and public institutions from anywhere in the world. Following the implementation of the proposed changes, the Public Service Development Agency will act as a guarantor for the trustability of secure, modern technologies and electronic document management systems.
It is important that citizens and organizations can download documents certified by a trust electronic service from the portal (www.sda.gov.ge), from the comfort of their homes. They can also send the documents to the recipient electronically without additional verification. Under the law, administrative authorities are required to accept documents submitted electronically and cannot reject them.
How is a qualified electronic stamp applied or created? – The territorial services of the Public Service Development Agency and the Public Service Hall provide special cards for creating a qualified electronic stamp.
With regard to the application of qualified electronic signatures – qualified electronic signatures can only be applied with an electronic identity (residence) card.
What methods of obtaining electronic documents are available:
Why was the Agency recognized as a trust service provider? – In order to provide qualified and trust services, the Agency has invested significant effort. The following accomplishments merit special attention:
It is worth noting that the country will significantly enhance its position in rankings related to e-government by introducing trust e-services. For example, in the United Nations’ 2016 study on e-government, Georgia ranked 61st among 193 countries. This will increase the country’s technological awareness and stimulate investment, which in turn will become a new catalyst for economic development.
