Poll reveals: optimism for information technology and cooperation in the Arab states
A new poll released in Cairo and New York revealed a spirit of optimism for the development of information technology in the Arab World and for inter-Arab cooperation in the next five years, a press release said.
The poll of 210 participants at the recent Arab Information Technology Conference, held in Cairo on March 18-19, was conducted by Zogby/ARTOC Research and Development. Participants represented business and government from countries throughout the world, with 90% from Egypt and the Arab World.
A solid majority (57%) told pollsters that the prospects for the development of information technology are very good, with only 13% responding negatively. Three in five (61%) said they were either "very optimistic" or "somewhat optimistic" about prospects for more cooperation in the Arab states.
A majority (55%) also expressed optimism for the prospect of forming a regional economic market, while 38% were not positive. Nonetheless, the conference attendees gave low marks for current IT efforts in the Arab World and they rated the Arab countries as less developed in IT among a number of developing nations and regions of the world.
When asked about the chief strengths that the Arab nations brought to the development of information technology, 30% said "human resources and trained personnel." Another 12% noted "financial reasons."
Topping the list of chief weaknesses were: "lack of technical know-how (10%); "lack of planning strategy" (16%); and "lack of Arab cooperation and unity" (10%).
Zogby/ARTOC Research and Development is a new partnership between Zogby International of New York and ARTOC Group for Investment and Development. Zogby International is among the major polling and opinion research companies in the world. Its President/CEO John Zogby, is an American of Lebanese descent.
ARTOC, led by Chairman and CEO M. Shafik Gabr of Cairo, is a multidisciplined investment holding company which is active in industry, services, media, automotive and infrastructure projects. Gabr, an Egyptian, sits on the Board/Council of the World Economic Forum, International Chamber of Commerce (Paris) and various NGO's and corporations.