Saudi Arabia's volume of investment in information technology (IT) is expected to soar to 13 billion, according to a source from the Cambridge Certificate for IT Skills (CIIT) in the Kingdom.
The source said the Kingdom is experiencing a significant progress toward the implementation of electronic trading systems, making it occupy a leading position in the world rankings – 41 in 2012 in electronic services, up from 58 in 2010.
According to local and international reports, Saudi Arabia now heavily relies on new integrated technology system in performing most of its business and services
As such, many of the country's agencies and institutions have provided an intensive training on computer skills to all of their employees in accordance with the global standards. These employees underwent tests to obtain a certificate from CIIT, the source disclosed.
They were trained in e-government program abilities, which aims to promote the culture of information and digital applications and the usage of computers on the basic level to deal with electronic program services and management and implementation of government e-service projects with a high degree of professionalism and skill. This enables citizens and expatriates to complete their transactions with ease and speed through networks.
Activating and applying the concept of e-government raises the productive efficiency of the public sector and provide better services to individuals and businesses
Omar Mohammed Basudan, CIIT director-general, said that these indicators reflect the efforts and intensive care provided by the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to activate and apply the concept of e-government to raise the productive efficiency of the public sector and provide better services to individuals and businesses, as well as to provide accurate information in a timely manner and to harness all possible resources for this purpose.
The Kingdom has been and remains a supporting force for the application of electronic services in both government and private sectors
He noted that the reason for the progress achieved by the Kingdom in this area is due to the practices by the competent authorities to push the economy and social development adding that the Kingdom has been and remains a supporting force for the application of electronic services in both government and private sectors, which form a quantum leap in the services provided by the vital sectors for all beneficiaries.
He said these rapid moves come amid Kingdom's growing investments in the field of IT such as software, expertise, infrastructure for information technology, which are estimated at 13 billion until the end of 2014, as it holds the largest share of this market in the Gulf. Specialized studies expect a steady growth of Saudi IT market in the coming years.
Officials say there are many benefits from the application of e-government, on the top of which is the decrease of time consumed in business through the use of electronic transactions. It also reduce stress resulting from the large number of concerns, congestion and queues and dealing with sometimes ill-tempered staff.
It also reduces material costs and eventually works to strengthen the national economy, raising awareness among citizens as a result of their familiarity with the use of technology.
Arab News
20 October
