Prof. Abdullah H Abdul-Gader Vice Rector Graduate Studies and Scientific Research King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia Telephone: Telefax : SCS meeting, Dhahran, Nov. 6, 2001 Road Map to National IT Plan for Saudi Arabia

Dr. Jarallah Al-Ghamdi Dr. Saud Al-Semari Dr. Mahmood Nagadi Dr. Mohammed Al-Homoud Dr. Sadiq M. Sait Dr. Abdullah Al-Abdulgader Steering Committee

The Road Map for the plan Data collection and analysis Adopting Guiding Principles Drafting the IT plan – Vision and Mission – Identifying Strategic Thrusts – Setting strategies for Strategic Thrusts – Identifying Key Areas for each Strategic Thrust – Proposing Initiatives/projects for Key Areas – Recommending the management of the plan

Data collection Studied several IT national plans of other countries, Conducted local surveys Carried intensive library/internet research. Held meetings with the private sector (IT companies, experts and industrialists). Collected data from various government organizations.

Guiding Principles of the IT plan To comply with Islamic values and teachings, which form the basis of all our analysis and guide our recommendations. The Plan should contribute to – improved quality of life – increased level of literacy – social uplift – diversification of economy – job & wealth creation

Call for a proactive role from the private sector, with the government playing the role of a facilitator, wherever applicable Enhance and develop the innovative and entrepreneurial potential of young Saudi Synchronize with the 7 th Development Plan Guiding Principles of the IT plan

Vision “We envision the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the forefront in the development and exploitation of Information Technology (IT), and the adoption of IT as the basis and the drive for the development of industry, commerce, education, public sector, and society at large large in accordance with Islamic values.”

Mission “To outline a plan to harness, embed, and exploit Information Technology (IT) for a thriving industry, economic growth, enhanced quality of education, and the betterment of the society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Strategic Thrusts

Jordan’s Strategic Thrusts 1.IT Industry Development 2.Policy and Regulatory Strengthening 3.Human Resource Development 4.Government Support 5.Capital and Financing 6.Infrastructure Improvement

Egypt’s Dimensions 1.IT Usage Stimulation 2.IT Export 3.Human Resource Development 4.Partnership with Multinational Industries 5.Infrastructure 6.Policies and Legislations

Canada’s Initiatives Developing Information Highway Making Sure Canadians can seize its benefits Providing a prominent place for Canadian Content Ensuring affordable, accessible and responsive government

Pakistan’s Focus Areas 1.Human Resource Development 2.Infrastructure Development 3.Software Industry Development 4.Hardware Industry Development 5.Internet 6.Incentives 7.IT Usage 8.Legislation and Regulations

Singapore’s Strategic Thrusts Singapore as Premier Infocomm Hub Singapore Businesses Online Singapore Government Online Singaporeans Online Singapore as Infocomm Talent Capital Conducive Pro-Business and Pro- Consumer Environment

South Africa’s Areas ICT sector Development ICT Usage Stimulation Human Resources Development ICT Innovation

Catalonia’s Specific Areas Infrastructure and Basic Services Industry, Commerce and Content Education and Training Administration and Services for the Citizen Health Care and Quality of Life Society and Cultural Change

France’s Priority Areas IT in education An ambitious cultural policy for new networks IT for modernising public services IT for companies Meeting the challenges of industrial and technological innovation Regulation and a protective framework for new information networks

Saudi’s Strategic Thrusts

Strategies: (1) IT-Industry To establish an environment where a vibrant IT industry will be an integral factor of wealth creation primarily through innovation and entrepreneurship, meeting regional and global market demands.

Strategies: (2) eBusiness To enable, facilitate, and promote the efficient and effective use of the Internet in the society, government, and, business and economy for development and growth while maintaining local, traditional and Islamic values.

Strategies: (3) Infrastructure To provide fast, easy, secure and affordable access to facilitate a modern internationally linked e- enabled infrastructure.

Strategies: (4) eLearning To integrate IT into the Saudi educational system thereby bringing the Kingdom to the forefront of educational technology

Strategies: (5) Human resources Development To have self-sufficiency of a well trained competent, qualified, and self-reliant workforce through dynamic educational and training programs, which will produce quality IT graduates of international caliber and also for IT to be used pervasively in the society.

(1) IT-Industry IT industry spans a wide range of products: hardware, software, and services It is one of the largest and fastest growing industrial sectors in the world

Sales of IT Hardware, Software, and Support Services (in Millions)

IT-Industry Strategy To establish an environment where a vibrant IT industry will be an integral factor of wealth creation primarily through innovation and entrepreneurship, meeting regional and global market demands.

IT-Industry Key Areas

IT-Industry challenge What can be done to realize IT industry strategy through each key area? What in your opinion are the recommended national initiatives and projects for each key area?

(2) eBusiness eCommerce: The capability of buying and selling products and information over the Internet and other on-line services by automating business transactions and workflow. eGovernment: An electronic means of providing more effective government-to- government, government-to-business and government-to-citizens services and relations.

(2) eBusiness eReadiness describes the extent to which a country’s business environment is conducive to Internet-based commercial opportunities. eReadiness model tallies scores of six categories – connectivity, – business environment, – eCommerce consumer and business adoption, – legal and regulatory environment, – supporting eServices, and – social and cultural infrastructure.

eReadiness rankings (May 2001) 1.eBusiness leaders : These countries already have most of the elements of eReadiness in place, though there are still some concerns about regulatory safeguards (USA, Australia, UK, Canada). 2.eBusiness contenders : These countries have both a satisfactory infrastructure and a good business environment but parts of the eBusiness equation are still lacking (Ireland, France, Austria, Taiwan)

eReadiness rankings (May 2001) 3.eBusiness followers : These countries form the largest group and have begun to create an environment conducive to eBusiness, but have a great deal of work to do (Greece, Czech Republic). 4.eBusiness laggards : These countries risk being left behind, and face major obstacles to eBusiness growth, primarily in the area of connectivity (Bulgaria, China, Ecuador)

(2) eReadiness rankings Egypt and Saudi Arabia who represent the Arab countries are among the eBusiness followers group. The large Saudi population compared to other Arabian Gulf Countries and the presence of large IT companies based in Saudi Arabia give Saudi eBusiness advantage and competitive strength in the region.

(2) eBusiness Strategy To enable, facilitate, and promote the efficient and effective use of the Internet in the society, government, and, business and economy for development and growth while maintaining local, traditional and Islamic values.

eBusiness Key Areas

eBusiness challenge What can be done to realize eBusiness strategy through each key area? What in your opinion are the recommended national initiatives and projects for each key area?

Growth of Teledensity (number of standard access lines per 100 inhabitants) in Saudi Arabia (3) IT infrastructure 14 in 2001

(3) IT infrastructure Global trends show countries like Australia, Korea, Canada, UK, USA and UAE have teledensity figures of 40 and above.

Telecom and Internet indicators in OECD countries Standard access lines per 100 inhabitants 52 (year 1999) Mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants 32.4 (year 1999) Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants 11.4 (year 1999) DSL per 100 subscribers2.4 (year 2000)

Internet Infrastructure Dimensions (Sept. 2001)

Internet Access The personal computers (PCs) penetration (PCs per 100 inhabitants) in the Kingdom stands at 5, which is very low when compared to other Arab countries such as UAE and Bahrain that boast a penetration rate in the range The number of Internet subscribers (those paying for access to the Internet) rather than users is a precise indicator of access. Until March 2001, the number of Internet subscribers was 275,000. The Kingdom’s user to subscriber ratio for the year 2001 is estimated to be 2.5

Infrastructure Strategy To provide fast, easy, secure and affordable access to facilitate a modern internationally linked e- enabling infrastructure.

Goals for Infrastructure plan Increase the percentage of Internet subscribers from 1.2% (2001) to 15% by Increase the mobile density (number of mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants) from 11 in 2001 to 40 by Improve broadband access by increasing the number of DSL lines to 10 per 100 subscribers by Increase the teledensity (number of telephone lines per 100 inhabitants) from 14 in 2001 to 40 by 2003.

Infrastructure Key Areas

Infrastructure challenge What can be done to realize Infrastructure strategy through each key area? What in your opinion are the recommended national initiatives and projects for each key area?

(4) eLearning eLearning is any form of learning that utilizes a computer network for delivery, interaction, or facilitation of the educational material. Compared to conventional learning, eLearning leads to: – about 30% greater learning in up to 40% less time. – higher performance in exams by about 26% to 37% on the average. – higher Long-term retention by 15% on the average.

(4) eLearning By fall 2000, almost all public schools in the United States had access to the Internet: 98% were connected. In Europe, the eEurope initiative calls for special attention to education where member states have committed themselves to put all schools online by China envisions providing broadband access networks interconnecting 800,000 Chinese schools.

(4) eLearning Strategy To integrate IT into the Saudi educational system thereby bringing the Kingdom to the forefront of educational technology

eLearning Key Areas

eLearning challenge What can be done to realize eLearning strategy through each key area? What in your opinion are the recommended national initiatives and projects for each key area?

(5) IT Human Resources Development The shortage of qualified IT workers in U.S, Europe, and other countries became a matter of considerable concern. Western Europe has a current shortage of 850,000 IT sector jobs with the shortage expected to grow to 1.7 million by Germany alone is reported to have a shortage of between 75,000 to 80,000 IT professionals Canadian researchers expect a demand for nearly half a million IT professionals by Local studies carried in early nineties and 2001 clearly reveal the severity of human resources issue.

(5) IT Human resources Development Strategy To have self-sufficiency of a well trained competent, qualified, and self-reliant workforce through dynamic educational and training programs, which will produce quality, IT graduates of international caliber and also for IT to be used pervasively in the society.

Human Resources Key Areas

Human Resources challenge What can be done to realize Human Resources strategy through each key area? What in your opinion are the recommended national initiatives and projects for each key area?

Managing the Plan Who should be responsible for developing the plan, approving and funding its initiatives, executing them, overseeing the execution, and updating the Saudi IT plan?

Managing the Plan in other countries CountryStructureRole Philippinethe National IT CouncilExecutive MalaysiaThe National Information Technology Council Advisory/ Think Tank TasmaniaThe Information Technology Industry Council Advisory/ Think Tank KoreaMinistry of Information and Communications Executive SingaporeInfocomm Development Authority Executive

Summary We have clear vision and mission statements Five Strategic Thrusts Twenty-two Key Areas Initiatives/projects Several Tens of Recommendations Management structure

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