18 January 2004
Under the patronage of prime minister Muhammad Naji Otri , the ministry of communications and Technology in collaboration of the United nations development Program UNDP held the second National Symposium under the title of " National strategy for the use of Information and Communication Technologies for Socio- economic development in Syria " on January 15 at the Damascus Cham hotel.
Representing the prime minister, the minister of communications and technology Bachir al-Munajjid and Ms Fumiko Fukuoka , deputy resident representative of the UNDP , attended the events of the symposium .
This symposium is within the framework of the project " E- Strategy for Syria" started in June 2002 , with an estimated budget of USD 40,000 funded by the Thematic Trust Fund for ICT ( Information Communications technology) of UNDP contributed to by the Japanese Government . This project aims at creating a platform for analyzing and assessing national needs and setting a framework of a national e- strategy using ICT in managing the opportunities and challenges posed by the new global environment .
In this context, the symposium will demonstrate the Syrian ICT strategy, prepared by the national teamwork together with an international expertise and in co-operation with senior consultants and officials in several local ministries .
In he speech, the UNDP deputy resident representative Ms Fumiko Fukuoka said that this workshop intends to review and invite final comments to the draft national E- strategy for Syria . The project teams, especially the E- strategy Committee of the government, has been working hard for the formulation of the draft strategy since June 2002, with an aim at establishing a policy framework to prioritize the use of ICT as a tool for sustainable human development of the country.
He said that Syria has initiated its public use of ICT in 2000. Since then, the country `s leadership has committed itself to expanding the access to ICT to the largest possible part of society and this commitment has been supported by a number of important actions . Despite such developments , the government had also recognized the lack of clear national strategy and policies to integrate ICT into national development plans and utilize it as a critical tool, not only for the exchange of information but also for larger goal of human development. Therefore the government requested UNDP to support their effort in formulating a comprehensive ICT strategy for Syria.
The E- Strategy for Syria " project, unique in its kind , was inaugurated in June 2002 in partnership with UNDP. This project aims at creating a platform for analyzing national needs and setting a framework for a national strategy of using ICT `s in creating the opportunities and dealing challenges posed by the new global environment . The E- strategy committee, that has been formed by the government, has played a pivotal role throughout the project as the focal point in formulating the policy papers and the strategy .
The project strategically has taken a participatory approach, with the consensus that successful formulation of the strategy would require inputs from multi- stakeholders , not only from the government but also from academics , civil society and private companies . Through various workshops, media outreach, the project had opportunities to benefit from the active discussion on the relevant issues and a number of studies in different aspects of current situation and future trends in development needs . The committee members have also regularly interacted with ten line ministries for information and vision regarding the use of technology .
She continued that the products of other parallel UNDP projects have contributed to the E- strategy project, including the E- readiness assessment under the " Strategic program for ICT in Socio- economic development ", as well as a number of regional and global best practices ..
She continued that the " Arab Human development report 2003 - building of knowledge society" compiled by UNDP discussed the need that Arab states should encourage greater interaction with other nations, culture and regions of the world. She emphasized that under the very able leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, Syria has embarked on a number of political, economic and administrative reform initiatives in making continuous changes toward modernization and Globalization. She indicated in this regard that the UNDP has been privileged in working in partnership with the Syrian leadership and contributing to this process.
Under the patronage of prime minister Muhammad Naji Otri , the ministry of communications and Technology in collaboration of the United nations development Program UNDP held the second National Symposium under the title of " National strategy for the use of Information and Communication Technologies for Socio- economic development in Syria " on January 15 at the Damascus Cham hotel.
Representing the prime minister, the minister of communications and technology Bachir al-Munajjid and Ms Fumiko Fukuoka , deputy resident representative of the UNDP , attended the events of the symposium .
This symposium is within the framework of the project " E- Strategy for Syria" started in June 2002 , with an estimated budget of USD 40,000 funded by the Thematic Trust Fund for ICT ( Information Communications technology) of UNDP contributed to by the Japanese Government . This project aims at creating a platform for analyzing and assessing national needs and setting a framework of a national e- strategy using ICT in managing the opportunities and challenges posed by the new global environment .
In this context, the symposium will demonstrate the Syrian ICT strategy, prepared by the national teamwork together with an international expertise and in co-operation with senior consultants and officials in several local ministries .
In he speech, the UNDP deputy resident representative Ms Fumiko Fukuoka said that this workshop intends to review and invite final comments to the draft national E- strategy for Syria . The project teams, especially the E- strategy Committee of the government, has been working hard for the formulation of the draft strategy since June 2002, with an aim at establishing a policy framework to prioritize the use of ICT as a tool for sustainable human development of the country.
He said that Syria has initiated its public use of ICT in 2000. Since then, the country `s leadership has committed itself to expanding the access to ICT to the largest possible part of society and this commitment has been supported by a number of important actions . Despite such developments , the government had also recognized the lack of clear national strategy and policies to integrate ICT into national development plans and utilize it as a critical tool, not only for the exchange of information but also for larger goal of human development. Therefore the government requested UNDP to support their effort in formulating a comprehensive ICT strategy for Syria.
The E- Strategy for Syria " project, unique in its kind , was inaugurated in June 2002 in partnership with UNDP. This project aims at creating a platform for analyzing national needs and setting a framework for a national strategy of using ICT `s in creating the opportunities and dealing challenges posed by the new global environment . The E- strategy committee, that has been formed by the government, has played a pivotal role throughout the project as the focal point in formulating the policy papers and the strategy .
The project strategically has taken a participatory approach, with the consensus that successful formulation of the strategy would require inputs from multi- stakeholders , not only from the government but also from academics , civil society and private companies . Through various workshops, media outreach, the project had opportunities to benefit from the active discussion on the relevant issues and a number of studies in different aspects of current situation and future trends in development needs . The committee members have also regularly interacted with ten line ministries for information and vision regarding the use of technology .
She continued that the products of other parallel UNDP projects have contributed to the E- strategy project, including the E- readiness assessment under the " Strategic program for ICT in Socio- economic development ", as well as a number of regional and global best practices ..
She continued that the " Arab Human development report 2003 - building of knowledge society" compiled by UNDP discussed the need that Arab states should encourage greater interaction with other nations, culture and regions of the world. She emphasized that under the very able leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, Syria has embarked on a number of political, economic and administrative reform initiatives in making continuous changes toward modernization and Globalization. She indicated in this regard that the UNDP has been privileged in working in partnership with the Syrian leadership and contributing to this process.
Tomader Fateh
© Syria Times 2004
