IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

There is also good improvement in terms of online citizen and business services indices, which show that the Omani Government and the Information Technology Authority (ITA) policies are yielding results. The ranking for e-Services this year is at 35 compared to its position of 55 in the 2010 Report.

The report pointed out to the growth made by the Sultanate in the field of e-government, as well as the successful policies adopted by the government in this field which helped the Sultanate to get this rank, 18 positions better compared to 2010. The Sultanate came sixth on the Arab level in the same report

The Sultanate stood fifth among the Arab countries on Networked Readiness Index (NRI) of the Global Information Technology Report 2012 issued by the World Economic Forum. The Sultanate was placed at 40 internationally among 142 countries included in the report.

The NRI measures the propensity for countries to exploit the opportunities offered by information and communications technology (ICT).

According to the United Nations’ 2008 e-Government Readiness Report, ranking countries by e-government development, Oman has jumped 28 points up in this ranking to 84th position in 2008 from 112th in 2005.

The annual Global IT Report remains the world’s most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of information communications technologies (ICTs) on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.

The NRI, featured in the report, ex-amines how prepared countries are to use ICT effectively across three component sub-indexes: the general business, regulatory, and infrastructure environment; the readiness of the three key stakeholder groups in a society: individuals, businesses, and governments to use and benefit ICT; and the actual usage of the latest ICTs available.

The report notes that the sultanate has established a secure infrastructure and national IT training and capacity building base, and specifically mentions the launch of the official eGovernment Services Portal. Published for the ninth consecutive year and covering 133 countries worldwide and with over 100 indicators and detailed profiles of each of the countries featured, the Global IT Report is regarded as the most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.

With coverage of 138 economies worldwide, the report is the world's most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.

The index indicates how governments create an environment in which citizens can be more active and supportive of their governments.

Oman also recorded good improvement in terms of online citizen and business services indices. The country’s ranking for eServices this year is at 35 compared to 55 in the 2010 Report.

The survey is carried out every two years and takes a look into how countries around the world are progressing towards achieving e-Government status. This year’s report illustrates that many countries have put in place e-Government initiatives including the acceleration of the adoption of ICT across the public sector in order to deliver more efficient, more transparent, more inclusive and more sustainable government to all citizens. Countries that lead the index have moved beyond basic e-services to integrated systems that link different institutions and departments offering a single point of contact to the public. This is where Gulf countries shine, the report said.

Oman ranks fifth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as the ICT industry continues to develop rapidly across the region, behind Qatar, the highest-ranked MENA country at 23rd, United Arab Emirates (25th), Bahrain (29th) and Saudi Arabia (31st). The report notes that: 'Gulf Co-operation Council states have sharply improved their overall performances and have continued their investments to make ICT one of the key national industries that attempt to diversify and transform their economies'. This is reflected in Oman's global ranking.

The Sultanate continues to score high in government functions such as effectiveness of law-making bodies (12th) and the efficiency of the legal system (14th), clearly indicating that Oman's transition plans to become a knowledge-based society are making significant headway.

Through the establishment of secure infrastructure, national IT training and capacity building, the launch of the Official eGovernment Services Portal, in addition to standards frameworks, policies, and increased awareness, Oman has placed in the 50th position in the Global IT Report 2009-2010 among 133 countries, released 25 March 2010, by the World Economic Forum.

This was revealed by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar Bin Hj Apong, Minister of Communications in a speech at the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day celebration at the Sutera Hall of Rizqun international hotel, yesterday.

According to a report released by the United Nations titled "United Nations Survey 2008; from e-Governance to Connected Governance", e-governance was best tool to check transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness of any government.

The "Measuring the Information Society Report 2013" (MIS Report 2013) contains the IDI of 157 countries. IDI generally 'presents the level of ICT developments in countries over time. It is a standard tool that governments, researchers and the general public can use to measure the digital divide and compare ICT performance within and across countries.'

The Philippines slipped from its 81st ranking in 2008 to 85th spot in terms of network readiness in the latest Global Information Technology Report 2009 released by the World Economic Forum. Back in 2007, the Philippines was ranked 69th among all the economies surveyed.