The recently released UNDESA document "Global e-Government Readiness Report 2005 : From e-Government to e-Inclusion" is also full of praise for Qatar's fast pace in online service delivery.
Similarly, most other Arab countries in the region also showed positive movement in the e-government readiness rankings, with Kuwait moving up to 75 from number 100 in 2004. Saudi Arabia moved up from 90th global position in 2004 to 80th in 2005.
The UN Report has praised Qatar's improvement of online service delivery, and concluded that its e-government portal was regional best practice and comparable to integrated services portals elsewhere in the world. Initiatives in Saudi Arabia were considered positive, if not on par with some of the region's high performances.
However, the report observed the presence of irregular e-government readiness in the region, with some countries doing well, but others lagging behind in the 100-160 world ranking segment.
For instance, Bahrain lost ground on its 46th world ranking in 2004 and ended 53rd worldwide in 2005.
According to the UN report, the e-governance readiness in the gulf region has been ranked approximately 50 per cent, compared to 91 per cent for index leading US.
The report has called upon the GCC countries to formulate detailed plans aimed at executing their ICT policies and strategies, and undertake new initiatives that will raise the IT literacy levels of all sectors in the society It also wanted the states to create awareness among the general public and facilitate or subsidize the purchase of home computers.
The UN's certification is yet another feather in the cap of Qatar, with the latter's e-governance imitative winning the "Excellent e-government Portal Award' of the 10th GCC e-Government Forum held in Dubai in 2004.
After making further penetration of e-government services, Qatar is gearing up to present a more rosy picture of its initiatives in the next GCC e-Government Forum slated to be held in Dubai on May 20.
On the second day of the four day conclave Dr Salem Al Naemi, Executive Director, Government Management Information system, Qatar, will present his paper on "Strategic and Operational Challenges faced by e-Government Initiatives in Qatar'.
Autor/Author: Satish Kanady
Quelle/Source: The Peninsula On-line, 16.05.2006
