Dr. Abd El-Rahman Sabry, Director of ICT for the League of Arab States, today stressed the importance of implementing 19 viable projects passed under UN Summit Resolution No. 214, in Amman Jordan. The endorsement of the Arab strategy document for the society of (ICT) was approved and the Council of the Arab Ministers for Communications was commissioned to crystallize the document in the form of practical working programs and projects.
The GT Summit 2006 which opened today (Sunday 3rd September) at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, is organized under the patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority.
Speaking at the GT Summit, Dr. Sabry stated, “It is the responsibility of individual Arab Governments as well as key stakeholders in the private and public sectors to choose which ICT projects they need to adopt. The selection process however should take into consideration certain criteria which we believe underpins a successful information society.”
Dr Sabry reiterated to delegates the seven basic pivots key to the Information society, namely infrastructure, human development, electronic works including electronic government and e-commerce, information, environment, information transfer, communications and information technology industry and supporting the Arab digital content.
Some of he proposed projects outlined were the Arabisation of domains, developing an Arab guiding system for e-works & dealings, constructing a research engine in Arabic, constructing an Arab digital library, low tariff internet, teacher training, SME computer support and implementing tools to measure the indicators of information society and capacity building.
The successful employment of the projects will help to realise a series of strategic goals, the most important of which were, developing and adopting the frames and systematic orders for the for e-works, transactions and other ICT sectors, bridging the digital gap in the Arab world and raising awareness.
Other objectives included increasing and enhancing the Arab and Islamic digital content and maintaining Arab and Islamic heritage in addition to providing Arab information and knowledge effectively and easily.
The GT Summit & Exhibition 2006, is organised by Dubai-based World Development Forum in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The League of Arab States. The three-day event which closes on 5 September 2006 provides a platform for senior IT decision-makers in the government and public services sectors throughout the Middle East to debate the cohesive and practical strategies required to establish an information society through sound e-governance for the common good of the Arab world.
Information & communications technology (ICT) indicators in the Arab region are still weak, (penetration for landlines, mobile phones and internet access are still only at 10%, 24% and 8% respectively), way behind the developed world. Therefore the UNDP introduced a regional initiative namely, ‘Information & Communities Technologies for Development in the Arab Region’ (ICTDAR).
Covering all Arab countries, ICTDAR’s main aim is to assist Arab States in harnessing ICT to reduce poverty, address digital divides and improve both public administration performance and private sector hold and expansion. As an integral part of their objectives, an E-governance programme was launched to provide policy advice to Arab government, establish a regional E-governance Institute (REGI) and setting up an E-governance portal to provide knowledge resources and tools as well as regulatory and legal information.
The GT Summit an invitation-only event has attracted high-level government ministerial officials in communications, commerce, education, finance, health, infrastructure and public works. Leading figures in other public sector or NGOs will also be sought such as chambers of commerce, municipalities, the judiciary, civil defence, utilities and tourism.
The comprehensive conference programme is addressing the most challenging issues faced by regional governments today. Strategy related topics will embrace E-participation, E-government, IT governance, risk and compliance management, business process management and resources capacity planning. IT related subjects will cover the actual dynamics such as smart IT infrastructures, enterprise architecture, integrated service delivery channels, connecting communities through Digital Cities and information security, access, collaboration and integration. Brainstorming sessions are also on the agenda to allow delegates to share their issues, concerns and potential solutions, in an interactive format.
Khaled Eid, Managing Director, The World Development Forum commented, “Dr. Sabry has outlined the key projects and criteria in depth. The main objective for GT Summit is to now help identify the technological opportunities, so that unified government strategies can be implemented that will benefit the whole of the information society.”
GT Summit is sponsored by Oracle, Intel, Trend Micro, eHosting DataFort, ITQAN with CNBC Arabia as media sponsor.
Summit Resolution No. 214, March 2001 Amman
Endorsement of the Arab strategy document for the society of (ICT) approved by the Council of the Arab ministers for Communications. The council to be commissioned to crystallize the document in the form of applicable working programs and activities.
Basic Pivots of the Information society
Infrastructure.
Human Development.
Electronic works including Electronic Government and E-commerce.
Information Environment.
Information transfer.
Communications and Information Technology Industry.
Supporting the Arab digital content.
Proposed projects
1-Arabization of Domains.*
2-Developing an Arab guiding system for E-works & dealings.
3-Developing an Arab guiding system for (ICT)*
4-Constructing a research engine in Arabic.
5-Linking Arab internets through NAPs.*
6-Developing an Arab guiding system for the Protection of intellectual property of programs and digital content.
7-Developing a mechanism for Arab coordination with relevant institutions in the (ICT) filed .
8-Establishing a network for supporting the development of open source software.
9-Providing a computer for each house.
10-Constructing an Arab digital library.
11-Establishing the Arab digital documentation center.*
12-Constructing the information clubs and convoys.
13-Low Tariff Internet.
14-Supporting S&M Companies to use information technology.
8-Establishing a network for supporting the development of open source software.
9-Providing a computer for each house.
10-Constructing an Arab digital library.
11-Establishing the Arab digital documentation center.*
12-Constructing the information clubs and convoys.
13-Low Tariff Internet.
14-Supporting S&M Companies to use information technology.
15-Arabization of (ICT).*
16-Constructing a regional gate to enhance the application of E- Government.*
17-Constructing incubators for (ICT) companies
18-Measurement indicators of information society and capacity building.*
19-supporting training of teachers on using information technology.
