Workshop presents host of papers IT: Let’s get on with it [Archives:2003/07/Business & Economy]

BY MAHYOUB AL-KAMALY
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Yemen’s government is planning to use communications and information technology to help curb illiteracy promote development.
Access to information is part of its goal, especially after adopting free internet services.
The government declared its intention to provide customs-free computers for employees selling them on installment basis.
A workshop was recently organized by the Ministry of Communications on the role information and communication technology plays in development.
Several important working papers were discussed. One was presented by the Central Bank, which confirmed that the Bank was among the first of government institutions to use computers and new information technology.
The Central Bank has provided the bank’s main centre with the internal network by using distribution devices.
In its development of external distribution equipment, the bank has adopted routers equipment and dial-up systems in its telephone lines.
The bank, the working paper says, simplified and shortened procedures by supplying the government with information and statistical data to help it take proper economic, development and financial decisions.
In addition, the bank has used this technology to facilitate services to customers and investors.
The private sector working paper referred to the social segments using information to three categories: a) employees of both public and private sectors, b) students and researchers , c) the public in general.
The paper confirmed the ability of the Yemeni public to comprehend and absorb means of development and information technology, along with the increase in companies and centers selling computers and more institutes teaching computer technology.
The paper has, however, says there’s a lack of enough knowledge on the significance of the use of information technology and notes the high cost prevents those of limited income from buying computers.
That includes customs and taxes imposed on them by the state.
The paper has also defined that Yemeni aged 16-40 make up more than 70 percent of the population. This indicates the existence of big investment opportunities in electronic commerce, e-learning, health care and e-government systems.
The paper encourages investors in information, customs and tax breaks, new laws on protection of intellectual property and new administrations at various institutions concerned with information and data.
A working paper presented by the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education reviewed the ministry’s efforts for building and developing information systems and data rules as well as preparing mechanisms and plans for linking technical education and vocational training information systems to the labor market.
The paper confirmed that adopting information and information systems needs 75 per cent of providing information and 25 per cent of skills and capabilities.
The working paper presented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade has reviewed hindrances, including a shortage in qualified manpower in this area and scarcity of financial allotments for providing information.
The paper confirms that the situation has impeded the ministry’s efforts for the development of the industrial and trade sector performance although the ministry has a centre for economic information and research, designing programs for various departments.
The centre, says the working paper, has designed a program for the trade agencies and companies and branches of foreign firms. It has designed a program for protection of trademarks and another for industrial record in addition to a program for external trade containing statements on exports, imports and balance of trade between Yemen and the world.
The ministry of industry has also drawn up a program on inlets for imported goods to know about commodities undesired to enter into the Yemeni market. The program also is concerned with commodities imported via land, sea and airports.
But this program has not been carried out yet for administrative reasons. As part of updating statements, the ministry is presently working for allocating all investments regarding establishment of companies or registering trade marks.
The ministry also intends to benefit from the UNKTAD program for opening international trade before new subscribers regarding supply of information through the electronic network.
The civil service working paper looks at the role of data and information in administrative development by implementing a program on updating civil service to rationalize the volume of labor, reconstruct a pension system and disclose cases of double job by means of computer.
The civil service has managed so far to discover nine per cent of such cases in government departments. The paper summarizes the challenges facing the electronic government in Yemen against the social, scientific and economic challenges.

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