Open Data is increasingly gaining attention from several countries and is being considered to be adopted as part of the larger concept of Open Government. Open Data is also an important practice of Gov 2.0; under which, governments employ latest technology to share information and stay connected with the people.
Open Data enriches public knowledge, encourages them to participate in governmental issues and in turn impacts the country's social and economic strength.
These and several other related points were discussed at a session dedicated to Open Data at the Second eGovernment Forum organised by Emirates eGovernment in the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority building in Dubai.
H. E. Salem Khamis Al Shair Al Suwaidi, Director General, Emirates eGovernment said, "Adopting an Open Data policy is one of the most important practices that reflect government agencies' desire for continuous development through making data and information seamlessly available to the users. Besides increasing government transparency, Open Data helps government entities by involving the users in the decision making process."
'Open Data' is defined as the data that is freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions. By making data available to the public, governments aim to create awareness among people about government statistics, reports and studies. This enhances transparency between the government and the public in addition to enriching public participation.
Ibrahim Ahmed El Badawi, Strategic Planning Specialist, Emirates eGovernment gave presentations on Open Data - theory and practice. Richard Kerby, Senior Inter-Regional Advisor, Division for Public Administration and Development Management at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DPADM/UNDESA) highlighted some examples of countries offering Open Data
Kerby is in the UAE as part of the national-level project that Emirates eGovernment has launched to enhance the UAE's competitiveness in the field of eGovernment.
The two lecturers explained that data is the raw material for information businesses. Since data is already available, it's one of the cheapest ways to open innovation and creativity prospects and help create new jobs. New businesses can be established based on analysing and visualising data from different sources.
H. E. Al Suwaidi praised government entities in the UAE that have already published their data in open formats. He called upon all government entities in the UAE to enhance the open data published on their websites.
"Open Data can lead to great economic benefits. Economic gains from making public sector information available to the public in the European Union, for example, are estimated at 40 billion Euros each year. Indirect benefits could reach as much as 140 billion Euros per year," Al Suwaidi added.
Opening government data also helps in providing better services that satisfy the needs of the users as well as enhancing the partnership between the public and private sectors. H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai emphasised the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE on the international level; a target that requires the combined efforts of the federal, local and private sector entities.
According to a survey Emirates eGovernment had recently conducted, most respondents would like to see more government data published. Emirates eGovernment has published close to 100 documents under the Open Data section on the official portal of the UAE government (government.ae).
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Quelle/Source: Zawya, 08.02.2012
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