This is demonstrated by their steady climb in rankings such as the World Economic Forum’s Networked Readiness Index. Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, for instance, have entered the NRI’s top 30. Much more, however, remains to be done.
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector represented 5.9 per cent of regional gross domestic product and a value of $81bn in 2010. With the right efforts, it has the potential to reach 7.5 per cent of GDP and $173bn in value by 2015. It could also create more than 300,000 jobs in the same period, in a part of the world that needs them urgently.
Mobile health technology allows medical professionals to manage many patients remotely. This technology can monitor their conditions in real time and pass on vital statistical information between the healthcare provider and the patient.
Read more: mHealth to forge the future of healthcare in the Middle East
With social networking platforms being among the tools of change in the recent Middle East upheaval, now would be the ideal time for regional governments to tap Web 2.0 for two-way communications with citizens.
Government departments in several regional countries increasingly engage with the public for feedback on e-government programmes or on specific e-services. They can now use Web 2.0 to interact on matters such as government services selection, scope, delivery and quality.
Read more: Middle East: The time is right for Web 2.0 communications
Satyam Vice President and Head, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Bobby Gupta said the company is targeting 100 per cent revenue growth from the region this fiscal.
Mahindra Satyam's revenues from the MENA region stood at approximately USD 56 million last fiscal.
Read more: 'Unrest can force Middle-East to spend more on e-governance'
Many countries in this region and the world have now adopted e-government services in order to make the lives of their employees and those of their citizens easier. This is an area that IT firms have seen as good markets for their products.
Read more: Government sector is thriving market for Middle East IT companies