Prof. Abdullah H Abdul-Gader Vice Rector Graduate Studies and Scientific Research

1. Road Map to National IT Plan for Saudi Arabia Prof. Abdullah H Abdul-Gader Vice Rector Graduate Studies and Scientific Research King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia agader@kfupm.edu.sahttp://users.kfupm.edu.sa/misac/agader Telephone: +966-3-860-2100 Telefax     : +966-3-860-2992 SCS meeting, Dhahran, Nov. 6, 2001

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

3. 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

4. Data collection • Studiedseveral 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). • Collecteddata from various government organizations.

5. 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

6. Guiding Principles of the IT plan • 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 7th Development Plan

7. 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 .”

8. 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.”

9. Strategic Thrusts

10. Jordan’s Strategic Thrusts • IT Industry Development • Policy and Regulatory Strengthening • Human Resource Development • Government Support • Capital and Financing • Infrastructure Improvement

11. Egypt’s Dimensions • IT Usage Stimulation • IT Export • Human Resource Development • Partnership with Multinational Industries • Infrastructure • Policies and Legislations

12. 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

13. Pakistan’s Focus Areas • Human Resource Development • Infrastructure Development • Software Industry Development • Hardware Industry Development • Internet • Incentives • IT Usage • Legislation and Regulations

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Saudi’s Strategic Thrusts

19. 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.

20. 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.

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

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

23. Strategies: (5) Human resources Development To have self-sufficiency of a well trained competent, qualified, and self-reliant workforcethrough 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.

24. (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

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

26. 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.

27. IT-Industry Key Areas

28. 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?

29. (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.

30. (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.

31. eReadiness rankings (May 2001) • 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). • 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)

32. eReadiness rankings (May 2001) • 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). • eBusiness laggards: These countries risk being left behind, and face major obstacles to eBusiness growth, primarily in the area of connectivity (Bulgaria, China, Ecuador)

33. (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.

34. (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.

35. eBusiness Key Areas

36. 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?

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

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

39. Telecom and Internet indicators in OECD countries

40. Internet Infrastructure Dimensions (Sept. 2001)

41. 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 10-15 • 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

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

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

44. Infrastructure Key Areas

45. 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?

46. (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.

47. (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 2002. • China envisions providing broadband access networks interconnecting 800,000 Chinese schools.

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

49. eLearning Key Areas

50. 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?