'Time has come' for GCC states to be e-connected

Muscat: The time has come to e-connect Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states for the benefit of citizens, said Mohammad Al Mazroui, assistant secretary-general for economic affairs.

"I think the time has come to set up a portal through which every GCC citizen can interact and do business among the member states," he told Gulf News on the sidelines of the first GCC e-government conference yesterday at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat.

He stressed that the GCC portal should not be limited to government use only.

"We need to create a platform that will serve citizens more than the government agencies," said the senior GCC official.

Dr Salim Bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman's Information Technology Authority (ITA) endorsed Al Mazroui's views.

"I agree we need a GCC portal and a panel discussion during the three-day conference will take up the issue," he said.

Common features

A UN official hoped that the conference would provide an opportunity to emphasise the synergies and advantages enjoyed by each GCC country.

"Countries in the region have many common features and face many similar challenges, most notably the development of education and competitiveness," said Bader Al Dafa, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, during his speech at the opening of the conference.

He stressed in his speech that eGovernment was not only intended to provide rapid and appropriate services to citizens, but also to improve public sector efficiency and transparency, thereby permitting greater effectiveness at lower cost in government departments.

Knowledge society

"The importance of this conference comes from what we are witnessing in the GCC of the constant development and achievements in the implementation of eGovernment plans," said Mohammad Bin Nasser Al Khusaibi, ITA Chairman.

"Thanks to the patronage given by their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to build a knowledge society and eGovernment, their interest in employing digital technology and providing an abundance of informatics and sophisticated electronic systems will help to achieve further development and progress in various fields," he added.

He stressed the significant role played by digital technology, which he added had become a key tool for upgrading knowledge and culture in this millennium.

Al Khusaibi also revealed that attention was also given to the development and implementation of national programmes for the training of nationals and rehabilitation of their basic skills.

"This will enable them to deal with modern technology, and take advantage of eGovernment services through the provision of free training for all citizens, in addition to providing specialised training for workers in the public sector," he pointed out.

Platform

"It also provides a suitable platform for the coordination of efforts on future plans, and the practical steps that have been taken in each GCC country in the field of eGovernment in order to achieve common Gulf goals," he added.

"As the internet has created a global microcosm village of the world as a whole, it leads us to further research and consultation on how best to leverage the enormous potential offered by ICT [information and communication technologies] to achieve greater cooperation and integration in the Gulf," said the ITA chief.