Etisalat symposium issues policy framework for e-government
The Arab Region symposium on eGovernment and IP hosted by Etisalat and organised by e-company in conjunction with ITU, concluded yesterday with the Dubai Declaration to enhance e-government services in the Arab region.
The Arab Region symposium on eGovernment and IP hosted by Etisalat and organised by e-company, the internet and e-solutions business unit of Etisalat, in conjunction with ITU, concluded yesterday with the Dubai Declaration to enhance e-government services in the Arab region.
Delegates from 13 countries in the region attended the four-day event.
The Dubai Declaration was released on the concluding day of the symposium which includes the procedures and mechanisms for implementation of the Declaration in the Arab region.
The declaration has laid out a policy framework for eGovernment and IP implementation in the region with the main highlights including establishing a regional Arab team of officials to ensure coordination in information exchange and knowledge sharing, cooperation in training to prepare specialised personnel in e-business, identification of work to be done to unify specifications and certificate categories in e-signatures, coordinating e-signature terms and electronic communication systems.
The Dubai Declaration also calls for more cooperation between the International Postal Union and ITU to support Arab countries in delivering electronic services to remote areas to ensure the right of every citizen to communicate electronically.
The declaration has also accepted the call of UAE Network Information Centre (UAEnic) for technical and administrative coordination between domain name registration centres in Arab countries with the cooperation of the ITU.
This initiative would help Arab countries to benefit from efforts regarding Arabisation of domain names through participating in experimental projects in this area.
It was heartening to see the intensity of debate which has been generated as a result of this symposium. It has also provided a valuable opportunity for participants to explore the opportunities that eGovernment engenders as well as understand the technologies shaping this eGovernment rollout, said Mohammad Hassan Omran, president and CEO of Etisalat.
