British IT expert: Information and Communications Technology will add
substantially to Syria, enriching the lives of all Syrians
Syria, Economics, 5/16/2002

Following the meeting between Syrian President Bashar Assad and British Prime Minister Tony Blair last autumn, the UK Government agreed to sponsor the development of an IT strategy for Syria. This was carried out by Charles Lowe, an IT consultant with substantial expertise in working with both governments and business.

In a statement to Arabic News (ArabicNews.com) Charles Lowe who was in a visit to Syria with an IT advisory team said "I have been here in Damascus five times this year. The purpose of these visits has been to develop an IT strategy for Syria, firstly by working with Syrian colleagues to identify the key areas and secondly to develop the strategy to address these areas."

He added that the analysis made during these visits identified many strengths in Syria such as willingness to change, good IT expertise and a relatively low wage economy. There were also serious weaknesses, which are certainly not unique to Syria, that needed addressing such as the poor legal, communication and financial infrastructure and government attitude to IT. The achievable vision proposed is that IT will add substantial value to the whole economy, enriching the lives of all Syrians.

The abiding threat is that whilst Syria needs IT, IT does not need Syria.

An example of the complex impacts of IT is the decision to ban access to popular Internet e-Mail services to reduce network congestion. This is now deterring foreign visitors to Syria who expect to be able to 'do' email wherever they are.

The initial visit identified nine areas for action: Make the outside world believe in Syria; Raise awareness of the modernization agenda; Improve overall communications, legal and finance infrastructure; Establish a Syria-wide e-Government program; Develop options regarding the US boycott of IT exports; Create an improved communications infrastructure; Ensure good coordination of training programs; Work through all requirements for e-Business; Establish the contribution of IT to tourism.

The strategy then went on to develop detailed plans in three key areas: Improve the communications infrastructure - this involves establishing a telecoms regulator, setting up regulatory processes, and restructuring STE as a commercial enterprise; Introduce eBusiness into Syria -- this has identified the five "Cs" as challenges to overcome: Communication (poor Internet access), Corporate Tax and Duty (too complex); Cyber-law (doesn't exist); Content (very little to entice people to log on) and Central Coordination (to pull it all together); Develop an e-Government Strategy - which splits into two parts: an overall strategy, with Prime Ministerial ownership brought about by early deliverables plus good cross-departmental coordination & prioritisation, and a demonstration project in one "e-Ministry." There is widespread support and enthusiasm in Syria for the above. A possible new phase is now under consideration which will provide expertise in implementing these plans.

He indicated there is a real interest in change in these areas in Syria, noting " In between visits to Syria things have been changed and there are a lot of very skilled IT people in Syria and there is willingness and recognition in every Syrian of the need to catch up." He said that opportunities for Syria are endless and it is such an exciting country to work in.

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