ESIS extension / Key Person Contacts and Organisations / Syria / Master Report

The state-controlled monopoly in the telecommunications market has created a proliferation of key person contacts in the public sector and associated organisations in the private sector. In order to explain the list of persons and organisations that have been submitted for Syria, it is necessary to understand the background to telecommunications and IS development in Syria.

Historically, new technologies in Syria were expected to meet certain criteria: technological development was expected to benefit and be accessible to the majority of Syrian citizens; they should have a direct impact on Syria’s overall social and economic development; they should maintain Syrian independence and cultural homogeneity. The concerns of the government is to protect Syria from influences that may undermine its independent position or culture has led to a degree of centralisation of policy-making and provision of IS and telecommunication networks.

The growth of Internet usage in Syria is slow. Current web-site provision is minimal, with the majority of key actors existing in the high profile newspaper industry and, of course, in government ministries. From the Syrian Computer Society’s (SCS) web-site inauguration in April 1998 (http://www.scs-syria.com/entrance.html), there has been a cautious but steady expansion in this area of IS activity.

The Ministry of Communications (Minister Ridwan Martini) and its Public Establishment of Telecommunications (STE) (http://www.syriatel.net/index.html) are key organisations in telecommunication issues. STE is the sole operator of the conventional telephony, satellite and submarine communication infrastructure in Syria.

Assad National Library, National Information Centre (NICE) (President: Dr. Abdul Majeed Al-Rifai. See: http://www.niceonline.org/nice.htm), Central Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Syria, are other key governmental organisations.

The potential for alternative network development highlights the possible role in IS activity by Syria’s lucrative industrial organisations, particularly in the power generation and oil, gas and petroleum industries. Economic reform that promotes a more liberal investment climate for private investors through retention of foreign export earnings presents one route towards the development of private provision of alternative networks. Law Number 10, passed in 1991, offers similar incentives to both local and foreign investors. At the moment Syria has a number of key industries that are investing in infrastructure, and entering into cross-industrial partnerships. For example, the Public Establishment for Power Generation and Transportation (PEEGT) has proposed a regional project to create an electricity grid between Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, via tendering partnerships with foreign companies.

In short, the range of key person contacts in Syria is determined by the government’s policies towards IS development as a function of the greater aims of Syrian national independence and preservation of its cultural identity.

The four universities existing in Syria (University of Damascus, University of Aleppo, Tishreen University and Al-Baath University) are directly involved in Information Society Projects essentially through their Computer Science/Engineering departments and University Computer Intermediate Institutes. The Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) (see: http://www.comsats.org.pk/hiast/hiasthome.html) is also playing key roles in the Information Society development at national, regional and international levels being the first technological university in the country, which has had the first IT Department.

The Governorate of the City of Damascus and that of Aleppo as well as the Chambers of Commerce (see: http://www.fedcommsyr.org/) and those of Industry (mainly in Damascus and Aleppo) are also involved in the promotion and development of IS.

The Syrian Computer Society (SCS) was established in 1989 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, aimed at promoting and contributing to the diffusion of information technology in Syria. This is implemented without compromising the government’s overall principles for technological development. The SCS carries out much work in association with the Ministry of Education and other governmental institutions.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.