The global economy is experiencing one of its most complex and comprehensive challenges in history. The recent credit crisis has led to record unemployment and economic hardship worldwide. Focusing on the transformational opportunities posed by the global economic turmoil, leaders from industry, government and civil society attending the 2009 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting agreed that Information and Communications technologies (ICT) can play a vital role in the pathway to an economic recovery. A digital revolution can form the foundation of a sustainable global economy.
While growing at a healthy pace during the last few years, the ICT sector as a stand-alone economic sector in the ESCWA region remains underdeveloped, especially when compared to the ICT sector of countries which are part of the knowledge economy. Even when implementing projects which target the development of a knowledge economy in the region, the public and the private sectors are still consumers of existing technology instead of being creators and innovators.
ESCWA is currently preparing a study entitled "Promoting the ICT Sector to meet the challenges of the knowledge economy", which will explore options for promoting the sector in the ESCWA region. This study will analyze the status of the ICT sector from different points of view (Business and Government), in order to determine relevant opportunities for developing the sector in the region. From governmental perspective, this study will review the role of ESCWA member governments in promoting the ICT sector and will propose guidelines to accelerate the evolution of this sector in order to satisfy the needs of the emerging knowledge economy in the ESCWA region. From the perspective of the business community, this study will focus on determining the problems and challenges hindering the development of an ICT economic sector and will suggest solutions to increase the contribution of this sector in socio-economic development.
Within the framework of this study, a questionnaire is prepared aiming at analyzing options for promoting the ICT sector in the region in order to recommend enhancements in the role of various players.
The Survey