“With the right efforts and information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities systems in place, it has the potential to continue doing so in the future, generating $30 billion in economic growth and creating an addition one million jobs over the next three years, in a part of the world that needs them urgently,” he added.
Competitiveness scale
“Despite top 30 rankings, the Mena in general, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in particular is vulnerable on the global ICT competitiveness scale,” said Milind Singh, Principal at Booz & Company.
“After gaining an average of four positions between 2009 and 2010, the top four GCC countries (Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia) surrendered their competitive momentum with an average regression of two positions in 2011.Only Kuwait has grown significantly, gaining 13 positions — albeit from a low starting position of 72.”
The Global Information Technology Report 2012: Living in a Hyperconnected World, was released by the World Economic Forum and Insead Business School. It published its Network Readiness Index (NRI) that ranks five GCC countries in the top 40 list globally, three of these in top 30: Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman, ranked at 27, 28, 30, 34 and 40 respectively, demonstrating that they have embraced ICT to boost their country’s competitiveness.
On the other hand, countries in the Levant and North Africa still lag behind and face important challenges to fully leverage ICT. Jordan ranked at 47, Tunisia at 50, Egypt at 79, Lebanon at 95, Morocco at 91, Algeria at 118, and Syria at 129.
In general, elevation of ICT on the national competitiveness agenda coupled with a disciplined approach to national ICT plans execution and impact monitoring translate into stronger economic and social impacts.
All North African countries have also declined in ranking this year, with Tunisia leading the pack with a 15 position drop. Egypt (five position drop), Morocco (eight position drop) and Algeria (one position drop) confirm the declining trend.
Booz & Company explains that the decline in GCC ranks is not driven by deterioration in a particular area, but a faster progression by other countries. GCC countries have exhibited significant achievements in selected areas: Four GCC countries rank in top 10 on Importance of ICT to Government Vision – Qatar at 2, Saudi Arabia at 5, Bahrain at 6, UAE at 7, with Oman a close 11th. GCC countries also fare very well on Government procurement of advanced technology, with Qatar being the global leader and Saudi (3), UAE (5), Oman (12) and Bahrain (17), all in the top 20.
Innovation environment
GCC countries also fare well in having a supportive business and innovation environment, with Qatar (2), Saudi (7), Bahrain (11) and UAE (21) all in top 20. Still, decline in the overall ranking stresses the need for accelerated and more effective action in translating government vision into national ICT policies, putting in place required enablers, and driving effective execution.
“Digital applications offer unprecedented potential for economic, social and political development,” said Bahjat El-Darwiche, Partner at Booz & Company. “Policy-makers need to be aware of both growth and transformational opportunities, and how they can craft policies that promote ubiquitous digitisation in a timely manner. They must facilitate the creation of new models enabled by digitisation at a faster pace than the old models are breaking down.”
“The NRI has been adopted by several governments as a valuable tool for assessing and leveraging technology for competitiveness and development,” said Soumitra Dutta, Professor of Business and Technology at Insead, a co-editor of the report.
“To measure this impact effectively, we have introduced a new set of impact-oriented metrics this year that assess not just the availability of technology, but also the ways in which economies put that technology to greater use. Considering how ICT has become omnipresent, the focus has moved from access to making the best use of ICT in order to improve business innovation, governance, citizens’ political participation and social cohesion,” he added.
Quelle/Source: Times of Oman, 08.04.2012
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