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February 2001


Syria
Summary Report (1999 - 2000)

1. Background

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 policymaking 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 government ministries and agencies. From the SCS’s web-site inauguration in April 1998, there has been a cautious but steady expansion in this area of IS activity.

2. Ministries

The Ministry of Telecommunications and its Public Establishment of Telecommunications (STE) are key organisations in telecommunication issues. STE is the sole operator of the conventional telephony, satellite and submarine communication infrastructure in Syria.

Other Ministries involved in major Information Society projects include Prime Ministry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Power and Electricity, Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, and Ministry of Information (Public Agency of Radio and Television).

The Ministry of Finance has been one of the earliest public establishments to introduce IT in its daily work in the mid 1970s. Various circumstances delayed full computerisation, although different departments slowly introduced networking and distributed database technologies in their work. During the past year the backbone for the ministry has been computerised and the various components are being brought together moving faster towards the information age for such classical application as finance.

A major change has taken place in Syria regarding the ministries involved in the Information Society. A new government has been formed on 13t March 2000, and most ministers concerned with IS development have changed. This government is supposed to start a renewal and modernisation of the public administration and improve the economic situation of the country. Various means are expected to be used, the most important of which are: increasing the private sector share in the economy (possibly through some privatisation), overhauling the economic institutions such as the banks, and revising the laws related to the economy.

It is expected that the new government, through the changes that it will induce, shall have a positive impact on the development of the Information Society in Syria.

Following is the list of ministers in the newly formed government that are related to IS in Syria:

SHAAM 2000, the sixth annual exhibition on Information and Communication Technology in Syria, that has taken place between 25 and 30 April 2000, has shown that a large number of ministries and government agencies are involved in the drive towards computerisation leading to the Information Society. Ministries have exhibited their information systems and computer applications developed to cover their own needs. Many of them have reached a reasonable level of maturity after going through two or more generations of ICT systems. Some of them are capable of designing their systems and developing the needed application software.

Following is a list of the ministries and governmental agencies that are potential players for IS and that have exhibited ICT systems of various levels of sophistication. Those involved in projects that can be classified as IS projects are indicated with an asterisk (*). They are all driving towards improving and modernising their systems within the available means of human resources and finances. Responsible contact persons with related information can be found in the ESIS database.

A Consultative Committee on e-commerce was formed by the Prime Minister. Its members are:

This committee is supposed to study all aspects of e-commerce and suggest the needed amendments to the laws and regulations in order to prepare the groundwork for the promotion and dissemination of e-commerce in Syria.

Dr. Bashar Al-Assad who was President of the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) from 1995 to 2000, and who is known for his strong enthusiasm for modernisation and Information Technology, has become the new President of the Syrian Arab Republic. He was elected following a referendum on 10 July 2000. This has resulted in a strengthening of science and technology based sectors, including higher education and research sector, and the nomination of a minister of state in charge of technology.

Prior to the election of the new President, a new Regional Leadership Committee for Al-Ba’ath party was elected. A new member of that committee, Professor Ghaiyas Barakat, has become responsible for Higher Education and Scientific Research.

A Minister of State, Dr. Hassan Al-Nouri, has been put in charge of Human Resources and Administrative Development.

A Minister of State, Professor Ihssan Shureiteh, has been put in charge of Technology Transfer and Technological Development.

The current period seems to be a period of assessment and transformational decisions. The main change in the past quarter was the nomination of new governors for ten of the fourteen Syrian governorates.

3. Public establishments and agencies

The Public Establishment of Telecommunications (STE), whose Director General is currently Eng. Mohammad Maarouf, is a key organisation for the IS, being responsible for all telecommunication issues. STE is actually the sole operator of the conventional telephony, satellite and submarine communication infrastructure in Syria.

The Social Security Establishment has also emerged as an important IS promoter by computerising its procedures using networking and database technologies for an integrated national system. This has resulted in better services for the workers and employers by making available social security information all over the country and accelerating processes. A unique Social Insurance Number and computerised card are now produced automatically for all insured workers.

Assad National Library, National Information Centre (NICE), 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 Electricity Generation and Transportation (PEEGT) is involved in a regional project to create an electricity grid between Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, via tendering partnerships with foreign companies.

Additional governmental agencies that are potential players for IS and that have ICT systems of various levels of sophistication, some of them, IS oriented, are indicated with an asterisk (*). They are all driving towards improving and modernising their systems within the available means of human resources and finances. Responsible contact persons with related information can be found in the ESIS database.

Mr. Ali ABDULKARIM was appointed as new General Director for the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the official Syrian news agency, which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Information.

4. Universities, municipalities, NGO's and associations

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) is also playing a key role in the Information Society development at national, regional and international levels being the first technology oriented university in the country, and which was first to establish an Information Technology department.

The Governorate (Municipality) of the City of Damascus and that of Aleppo as well as the Chambers of Commerce 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. Dr. Ghassan Al-Lahham replaced Dr. Bashar Al-Assad as the new President of the Syrian Computer Society (SCS).

The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce (FSCC) has a growing role in co-ordinating the efforts of all chambers of commerce located in major cities in Syria. FSCC is also promoting the use of ICT and particularly the development of a business database on the Internet. Also both the Damascus Chamber of Commerce and the Damascus Chamber of Industry are active in promoting IS.

FSCC works closely with the Syrian European Business Centre (SEBC), which is a joint agency established with the European Commission to improve business practices in Syria and to promote Syrian-European joint ventures. The latter sponsored the production of an awareness brochure on e-Commerce mainly for the decision-makers and business people in Syria.

The following universities and intermediate institutes are active in the information society in Syria by having IT departments and faculties:

Next to the establishment of four faculties of Computer Engineering in the four Syrian universities, Deans and Deputy Deans for these faculties were nominated, as follows:

Presidential decree No. 439 dated on 5 October 2000 designated the following persons as new Governors (Mayors):


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.
 

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