February 2001

Mediterranean Area Synthesis of Master Reports

1. Introduction 2. Key actors 3. Information Society policies overview 3.1 Umbrella policies 3.1.1 Types of umbrella policies 3.1.2 Major themes of umbrella policies 3.2 Areas of application for Information Society 3.2.1 Government and Administration 3.2.2 Telecommunications and Internet 3.2.3 Electronic commerce 3.2.4 Education and Research 3.2.5 Health Care

Developing the « Information Society » is becoming a major challenge for the economic and social development of Mediterranean countries, indeed, new information and communication technologies are seen as key components of growth. For several years, public and private players have become increasing interested in enabling the development of infrastructures networks, technologies and information society applications.

In countries with medium to high-income levels and adequate public and private structures, new information technologies can facilitate a better dissemination of knowledge, economic growth and increase in employment. On the other hand, the low levels of purchasing power amongst the population, insufficient level of infrastructure development, limited access to hardware in developing countries, and in particular in Mediterranean countries, explain the difficulties to promote and diffuse Information Society developments and benefits.

Then, the "Information Society" brings with it a major risk of growing disparities between regions and populations. Then, it is obvious that the implementation of wide-ranging public policies is essential to progress towards Information Society, in particular in less developed countries.

The countries of the Mediterranean zone are all at different stages of economic development. This explain their various different development strategies. Cyprus, Malta and Turkey are cases in point. These countries are candidates to European Union. They are in the process of bringing their legislative frameworks in line with the European directives, an integral part of this process being the incorporation of the « Acquis Communautaire » in Information Society developments.

This document is designed to give a broad perspective of Information Society policies throughout Mediterranean countries, with a particular emphasis on the liberalisation process, and public and private sector policies in this area. The first section of the document concentrates on key IS actors. The second section covers IS policies. The report is based on the contributions of national contractors involved in the ESIS II project.

The type of government ministries and other organisations involved in the information society strategies depends on a set of factors : levels of development achieved, national priorities, regulatory orientations.

More specifically, national reports show that the following bodies are generally involved :

• Ministries of Transportation, Ministries of Telecommunications, Ministries of Education : they are main players in all the countries

• Ministries of Economy and Trade : in Palestine and Lebanon

• Ministry of privatisation in Algeria

• Councils for Development and Reconstruction in Palestine and Lebanon

• Dedicated organisations : in Syria for instance, the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) established in 1989 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, is aimed at promoting and contributing to the diffusion of information technology.

It is apparent that a number of ministries, as defined by their objectives, are at the heart of the national strategies towards the Information Society.

A sign of the growing interest in the Information Society is the creation during 2000 of a large number of government consultative bodies, steering groups and commissions dedicated to this area.

Many countries have set up national steering groups for E-commerce (including Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, etc), or the Internet (again, including Turkey, etc). Most notably, Syria has created a new Ministry of State for Technology Transfer and Technological Development, whilst in Jordan, the Economic Consultative Council , a 20-strong task force, was set up in 2000 to make recommendations to the government and oversee the implementation of a modernisation plan.

Some Key Actors of Information Society

Algeria	· Information High Council : independent authority of regulation in charge of specifying regulation regarding freedom of expression and information rights · Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research · Health Documentation National Agency · Privatisation Council · Minister of Posts and Telecommunications · Audio Visual National Council
Cyprus	· Department of Information Technology within the Ministry of Finance · Institute of Technology · Planning Bureau · Research Promotion Foundation · Cyprus Telecommunications Authority
Egypt	· Ministry of Communication and Information Technology · Information and Decision Support Centre · Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics
Israel	· Ministry of Communications · Parliamentary Committee on Sciences · Ministry of science · Office of the Chief Scientist within the Ministry of Trade and Industry · Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
Jordan	· Economic Consultative Council · Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Lebanon	· Ministry of State for Administrative Reform · Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications · Ministry of Transports · Ministry of Industry · Ministry of Economy and Trade · Council for Development and Reconstruction
Malta	· Ministry for Transport and Communications · Ministry for Economic Services · Maltese Communications Authority · Prime Minister Office · Maltese Information Technology & Training Service (MITTS), set up by the government to promote the use of IT within government
Morocco	· Ministry of Communications · Ministry of Commerce, industry and Cottage · Ministry of Economy and Finances · Maroc Telecom
Palestine	· Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications · Ministry of Economy and Trade · Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction · Palestinian Information Technology Association
Syria	· Ministry of Communications · Ministry of Higher Education · Ministry · Syrian Telecommunications Establishment · Syrian Computer Society · Ministry of State for Technology Transfer and Technological Development · E-commerce Consultative Committee (including Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Economy & External Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Director General of STE, a representative of SCS). · Consultative Councils in various ministries
Tunisia	· Minister of Communications · National Commission for Electronic Commerce and EDI · Secretary of State for Informatics · Secretary of State for Scientific Research and Technology
Turkey	· Ministry of Transportation · Electronic Commerce Co-ordination Committee · Information Technologies Group of the National Parliament · Internet Higher Council

3.1 Umbrella policies

3.1.1 Types of umbrella policies

National Strategies are diverse. However, as a general rule, a number of typical approaches can be identified from the national reports.

In many countries, specific programmes relating to the national strategies for the information society have been developed, covering all the different objectives linked to the country’s economic and social development (government, education, industry and services, employment and so on).

This is the case, for example, in Jordan where the Reach 2.0 programme defines a general strategy for the development of the information technology industry.

Reach 2.0 objectives are :

• Attract $ 150 million in direct foreign investments over the next three years,

• Create some 30 000 directly and indirectly IT-related jobs,

• Generate exports worth $ 550 million over the next five years

This programme takes into account a very large number of factors linked to the information society including investment and finance, e-regulation, regulatory frameworks, the development of human resources and infrastructures and so on.

In Morocco, the State Ministry for Postal Services and Information Technologies plan has the following objectives :

• The set up of Administration on line

• Development of a new economy based on know how and innovation

• Training and valorization of human resources

• Improvement of quality of life for Moroccan citizens

For certain countries, the national reports show that there are currently no clearly defined, nationally co-ordinated strategies for the information society. The different ministries involved each implement their own projects on an ad hoc basis. However, it is interesting to note that there is a growing interest which is manifesting itself in national development plans. 

In Turkey for example, the five-year Plan prepared by the State Planning Organisation and approved by the parliament in 2000 recognises the information society and information technologies as very important areas.

In other countries, the strongest expression of the authorities’ determination to promote the information society is shown by policies of open competition and deregulation of key sectors, as it is happening in Jordan for example. It is equally demonstrated by the adoption of new laws encouraging inward investment. In Palestine, a law designed to encourage direct foreign investment was established in 1998, with the aim of offering incentives and guarantees to investors.

3.1.2 Major themes of umbrella policies

Major themes of umbrella policies :

• Infrastructure development

• Updating the institutional and legal framework

• Privatisation programmes (Morocco, Jordan)

• Programmes to attract foreign investments

• More efficient coordination of national plans

• Liberalisation programmes

3.2 Areas of application for Information Society

We present below Information Society projects carried out in key sectors.

3.2.1 Government and Administration

Public Administrations, governmental agencies, national and regional authorities are in the process of increasing the dialogue with the public.

Updating and replacing information systems, and computerising government departments, is one of the major strategic priorities linked to the information society.

The main objectives include :

• Computerising the public sector : projects which involve computerising ministries and other government agencies, and implementing Intranets to enable new kind of information exchanges between departments to enhance their efficiency. This represents a major effort as the current level of computerising is very low within the area.

• Improving administrative information accessibility : creation of web sites and true portals by the ministries and administrations to enhance the communication with the public. It may lead to the development of on-line operations.

Examples of Governmental projects quoted in the national reports are presented below :

• In Cyprus, the government is leading several projects. Among them, the « Information Systems Strategy » targeting the computerisation of all ministries and governmental agencies. The Government Data Network project is part of this master plan. It consists in the implementation of a network linking ministries and all related agencies.
  

• Egypt has launched an « e-government » initiative. The project is aimed at setting up a network linking ministries, develop government web sites, etc.
  

• In Jordan, the Economic Consultative Council has elaborated the « E-government strategy ». Jordan is implementing a policy of market opening and privatisation (The recent privatisation of Jordan Telecom being a good example). In order to facilitate investment operations (to give all necessary information, to avoid licensing procedures), the Jordan Investment Board (JIB) has created has launched in 2000 a web site of information on Investment operations (www.jordaninvestment.com). A very interesting element is that investors can fill in applications forms directly via the web site that is transferred to an investment committee.
  

• In Lebanon, the authorities are have given a great deal of thought to the development of the information society. The main areas for consideration include infrastructure modernisation, reform of the way ministries operate and, notably, computerisation. The national report mentions that in September 2000, took place the « Lebanon E-Government Seminar » to which many experts from the private business sector, the public sector and academia participated. The main issues raised covered a number of topics :

  • E-Government : definitions and practical steps towards its realisation

  • E-Government enabling technologies

  • International E-Government experiences
    

• In Morocco, the major governmental IS projects are the following :

  • Administration on line

  • Implementation of an integrated Information System of land conservation in order to centralise data related to real estate ownership (cadastres, ground plans, mortgages)

  • Design of an integrated Information System for the Ministry of Environment

  • Creation of an Observatory for Information Technology in the Industrial and Commercial Sectors
    

• In Turkey; the government and local administrations are at a moderate level of computerisation. There are some major networking and IS projects in all ministries and administrative bodies. In order to unify the computerisation policy, the government is leading the Kamunet project to harmonise all networking realisations that are under way.
  

• In Syria, a programme of computerising government departments is currently under way. Computerisation of public agencies is also going on, this is the case for the Social Security Establishment, the Civil Register and the Public Insurance Company.

3.2.2 Telecommunications and Internet

Without a question, the telecommunications sector has seen the most significant transformations over recent years in Mediterranean countries. At the heart of national strategies, telecoms not only provide supports necessary to the implementation of information Society, but also acts as an incubator of new technological tools.

It remains difficult to talk convincingly to talk about the "information society" in countries where the economic development is still very low and where publicly-owned telecoms operators have not yet reached sufficient levels of coverage compared with developed countries. For instance, by the end of 1999, the average number of telephone lines per 100 head of population for the Mediterranean countries being studied had reached just 21, compared with 46 in the European Union, with only between 5 and 10 lines per 100 people in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Because of this, the deployment of infrastructures and modernisation programmes are a priority for many countries. This policy is often coupled with the privatisation of state-owned telecoms operators and encouragement to the development of mobile networks.

The major priorities in the telecoms sector are :

• Modernisation Programmes : in all the countries being studied, the telecoms ministry or the national operator has defined policies for modernising infrastructures. In Jordan for instance, the national operator announced several objectives : development of a data network, provisioning of ISDN services in major cities of the kingdom, expansion of the public voice network. In Palestine, Paltel, the national operator, should install 600 000 new telephone lines. In Tunisia, the 9^th Development Plan (1997 – 2001) gives several objectives to Tunisie Telecom : the construction of 1 million new telephone lines, the increase of teledensity to 10% of the population by the end of 2001. In Egypt, the minister of Communications and Information Technology has defined a five-year plan aimed at increasing the number of line per 100 head to 20% in 2005.
  

• Privatisation of operators : Jordan and Morocco have partially privatised the incumbent operators, Egypt should enter in the process in a few months
  

• Development of mobile networks : there are two mobile operators in Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, three in Turkey (issue of a third licence in recent months)

The national reports reveal that the level of development in the the telecoms sector diverges widely across different countries. Within the diversity, there are several categories of countries :

• Israel, where the level of development has European levels, with 44 telephone lines per 100 people by the end of 1999, 3 mobile operators.
  

• Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, candidates to European Union. They are in the process of bringing their legislative frameworks in line with the European directives, an integral part of this process being the incorporation of the « Acquis Communautaire » regarding telecommunications. They have reached a high development level : by the end of 1999, the number of lines per 100 people was 63 in Cyprus, 53 in Malta and 31 in Turkey, 2 GSM mobile operators in Turkey. Today, among the important events to carry out : the privatisation of incumbent operators, the launch of competitive mobile networks (Cyprus and Malta).
  

• Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, are carrying out policies of privatisation of national operators (operators are yet partially privatised in Morocco and Jordan, Egypt announced its intention to in that sense), development of competition in the mobile sector, open the industry of internet. By the end of 1999, the number of lines per 100 people was equal to 6 in Morocco et 10 in Egypt.
  

• Algeria, 2000 was characterised by the preparation of the future liberalisation of the sector.
  

• Lebanon and Palestine, efforts are in particular oriented towards the up grade of infrastructure. End 1999, teledensity in Lebanon was equal to 29.
  

• Tunisia and Syria, where telecommunications industry remains rather closed.

We present below an overview of latest developments that occurred in the telecommunications area :

• In Algeria, the most important event in 2000 is the vote of a new law of telecommunications in August 2000. This law prepares the opening of the sector, creates Algerie Telecom, announces the issues of GSM mobile licenses in 2001. Another major element to outline is that the Internet Services Providers industry has been liberalised since 1998. By the end of 2000, there were 28 ISPs in Algeria.
  

• Cyprus, as a candidate to integrate Eu has to comply with the « Acquis Communautaire ». While today telecommunications remain under the monopoly of the incumbent operator (Cyprus Telecommunications Authority) (excluding Internet access and data transmission), the liberalisation should happen on January 2004, the 1^st. At the end of 2000, there were 5 ISPs in Cyprus.
  

• The Minister of Communication and Information Technology in Egypt announced the sell of 20% of Egypt Telecom for the end of 2000. Nevertheless, the operation has been postponed to a further date, no yet chosen .
  

• Jordan has known major reforms : in January 2000 the sell of 40 % of the incumbent operator (Jordan Telecommunications Company) to the consortium Jitco held by France Telecom (88%) and Arab Bank (12%) for 508 $ millions. As part of the deal, France Telecom announced a programme of modernisation of infrastructures of JTC. France Telecom is also responsible for the wireless unit MobilCom. MobilCom plans to invest more than JD 180 million over the next 4 years and has already spent JD 38 million. The GSM services were launched on September 2000. We note that the established mobile operator, Jordan Mobile Telephone Services Co. has more than 150 000 subscribers today.
  

• In Lebanon, since the end of the war in 1989, a huge effort has been undertaken to reconstruct infrastructure. As part of the reconstruction strategy :

  • The implementation of modern fixed telephone networks in the main cities, especially those located on the Mediterranean Coast : Beirut, Tripoli, Jounieh, Sidon and Tyre

  • The award of 2 GSM networks to foreign operators in the framework of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) contracts. One contract was realised with FTML CELLIS, a joint venture between France Telecom Mobile International (66.7%) and local investors (33.3%). The other contract was realised with Libancell, a joint venture between Telecom Finland (14%) and local investors (86%). In the future, the 2 BOT contracts should be transformed on licenses. A third mobile license should also be issued.

• Morocco also saw fundamental developments during the last 2 years oriented towards opening of the sector :

  • issue of a second GSM license to a private consortium, Medi Telecom (Telefonica (39.5%), Portugal Telecom (39.5%), Moroccan Bank of International Commerce (20%), Moroccan group Akwa (11%), the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (8%)). Medi Telecom launched its services on March 2000,

  • issue of 3 VSAT licenses that will permit to fit an important demand of companies for VSAT services,

  • the government sold 35% of Maroc Telecom to Vivendi Universal. The transaction has been done for 23.3 billion dirhams, about 2.3 billion euros.

The future timetable includes the further privatisation of Maroc Telecom and the fully liberalisation of the sector in the course of 2002.

• In Palestine, the national telecommunications operator is Paltel. Paltel is conducting a plan of development of telecommunications infrastructures (adding 600 000 new lines and up grade the network). The context may be characterised by important renewed attempts to adjust the regulatory framework towards more liberalisation. Concerned ministries and Councils have started a process of consultations. Indeed, Minister of Economy and Trade and the Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction have conducted a "Study for the Restructuring of the Telecommunications Sector in Palestine".
  

• In Tunisia, the Tunisian telecommunications operator is Tunisie Telecom. The GSM network is currently operated by a subsidiary. The Tunisian government has undertaken several initiatives regarding Internet. Among them, the Publinet Project consisting in the setting up of Internet Public Centres throughout the country. The objectives of Publinet are the provision of Internet access in the country, even in rural areas, and the creation of jobs for young graduates.
  

• In Turkey, the national operator is Turk Telekom. Amongst the major events that have characterised the sector in recent years, one must note the development of 2 GSM operators, Turkcell and Telsim, the issue of a third license in the last months, and the forecasted issue of a forth one by short term. The total liberalisation of the sector is forecasted for January 2006 the 1^st, and the start of the privatisation of Turk Telekom by the end of 2003.
  

• In Syria, the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE) is the telecommunications state monopoly. 2000 has been marked by fundamental developments :

  • The license of 2 private companies (InvestCom and SyriaTel) to implement and operate a GSM pilot project,

  • The implementation of an Internet backbone network and further STE, the license of a second ISP : the Syrian Computer Society, but with an activity reserved for its membership and university professors. As in lot of Mediterranean countries, subscription fees are quiet expensive. This constitutes an important barrier to the Internet access.

3.2.3 Electronic commerce

The development of a regulatory framework for e-business (focusing on authentication and security) has become a great priority in most developed areas (United States, European Union, Japan …) and significant advances have been realised.

A Directive has been adopted by the European Commission and several EU members states yet issued national laws regulating a set of aspects (encryption, digital signature, Internet regulation).

Low penetration of Internet in Mediterranean countries explains low developments regarding e-commerce regulation.

One can distinguish countries which have yet adopted laws and countries in the process of elaborating a regulation.

Beyond the elaboration of regulatory frameworks, some countries are experiencing pilot e-business projects within specific sectors, interesting specific categories of enterprises, or interesting relationships between enterprises and administrations. Forms of pilot projects are various : they may consist in training programs, necessary to promote e-business practice as well as in the realisation of e-commerce applications.

This approach seems necessary to enable the involvement of actors, the take into account concrete needs of all the industry (in terms of technology, transaction security, content, ability of actors to develop web sites and e-business projects, etc.) and real first developments of e-business.

Companies are also implementing web sites, boosting Internet usage.

We present below some e-commerce developments in the Mediterranean countries :

• In Cyprus, the ministry of finance has appointed a special committee on electronic commerce. The aim of the committee is to create a national strategy regarding e-commerce. Currently, there is no formal regulation concerning e-business.
  

• In Jordan, among important developments regarding e-commerce, it is interesting to mention 3 e-business projects currently conducted by the Amman Chamber of industry (ACI) in the framework of a European program :

  • The first project is a Business Training Program. It aims at training 30 employees of the ACI and other business associations on e-business

  • The second project consists in a e-commerce awareness campaign aimed at promoting e-commerce within business community. The project includes the training of 4500 managers.

  • The third project consists in the organisation of an e-commerce conference that should take place in early 2001.
    

• Lebanon has seen important developments over recent months :

  • Legislative developments :

    • In December 1999, the parliament has voted a legislation under which the Central Bank has to promote the bank industry evolution towards Internet taking into account many aspects : security, codes of conduct, etc.

    • In September 2000, the government has approved a draft on digital signature that is to be discussed at the Parliament.

  • Private initiatives :

    • The banking sector has realised important developments. For example, the Beirut Stock Exchange is evolving into a completely electronic system of quotation with the assistance of the Paris Stock Exchange. Furthermore, a new project has been launched aimed at linking stock exchanges of Arab countries.

    • More generally, a lot of national and international banks have developed web sites and tele-banking services.
      

• Moroccan government is involved towards the promotion of e-commerce in particular through the creation in February 2000 of a Commission in charge of the development of e-commerce. The Commission is composed of representatives from the public and the private sectors. It is in charge of making recommendations and plans dealing with training, transactions solutions, …).
  

• In Turkey, the national report outlines the growing interest towards e-commerce and mentions the creation by the Under-secretary of Foreign Trade of a committee in charge of making recommendations dealing with technical and juridical aspects of e-commerce.
  

• Tunisia has adopted a law on e-commerce on July 2000. This legislation comes to enclose three years of studies on e-commerce carried out by a national Commission created in November 1997. A pilot project "E-Dinar" has also been launched in September. This project consists in a "e-purse" solution (confidential code, rechargeable) that has yet been used by several High Schools enabling students to pay for their inscription via Internet.
  

• In Syria, the national report mentions : that the Prime Minister has created an E-commerce Consultative Committee aimed at making proposals dealing with e-commerce (regulation, pilot solutions).

3.2.4 Education and Research

Research and Education are important areas both in term of the use and development of Information Society programs. In a lot of Mediterranean countries there are high rates of illiteracy. The education and research sector is therefore one of the main targets for IS projects.

In overall terms, policies being put in place tend to be long term oriented, aimed at achieving a sustainable increase in the overall education level and the qualified workforce.

The main axes are :

• Quantitative policies :

  • Equipping schools and universities with PCs, scientific laboratories and Internet access

• Qualitative policies highly complementary of equipment policies :

  • New training programmes in the area of science and new technologies to meet the requirements for a suitably qualified workforce. Some countries, notably Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan, have even set objectives in terms of the number of qualifications to be awarded.

  • Specific teacher training programmes

  • Tailored professional training

  • Support to private R&D activity and creation of technological centres

• Projects with the European Union, for example in Cyprus the Q-MED project which aims to promote cooperation between Research Communities of the region

• Applicative projects : for example the Inherit project in Cyprus which consists in the development of an Internet-based training for people living in rural areas.

Axes of countries policies are presented below :

• In Algeria, some reforms of education system have been undertaken and are in elaboration. They pay attention to the diffusion of IT in schools :

  • The national report mentions that the Ministry of Education is actively working on the promotion of the use of computers in primary/secondary schools and universities. Teaching computing science has become compulsory at all levels of education from the second quarter 2000.

  • More generally, a programme for reforming the education is currently in course of elaboration by the Ministry of Education (the programme also take into account professional training). First recommendations should be presented to the government in February 2001. The means to promote and reinforce Information Society and Information technologies should constitute a great focus of the new strategic plan.
    

• In Cyprus, applications of Information Society in Education is driven primarily by the University of Cyprus. Among the main projects, the national report mentions the European project Q-MED (an extension of the Quantum Trans-European Research Network Infrastructure project) which aims to promote and enhance the co-operation and understanding between Research communities of Cyprus and other countries of the region. The report also quotes the Inherit project : a tele-training project aimed at providing rural areas with special training.
  

• In Jordan, the Ministry of Education has started in September 2000 a program of JD 28 million consisting in the implementation of a network linking public schools of the kingdom. The Ministry is also involved in an heavy equipment program :

  • provisioning of schools with computers,

  • specialised scientific laboratories,

  • introduction of 10 learning centers for teachers, students.

The Ministry of Planning, in charge of Higher Education, is carrying a development project co-financed by the World Bank (the overall cost of the project is $ 74 M, the loan of the World Bank is of $ 35 M). What is very interesting with this project is that it multi-faces :

• provisioning of universities with access to internet,

• implementation of modern Information Systems within the Ministry,

• funding of an inter-university library network

• funding of professional training

• In Lebanon, several ministerial entities are in charge of education : the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Vocational Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Culture. The Lebanese National Center for Scientific Research (LNCSR) (Ministry of Higher Education and Culture) is also a key actor. Its tasks are :

  • The definition of the national science and research policy

  • The carrying out of surveys and inventories of on-going research activities in private and public institutions

  • The formulation of working programmes with various ministries

The LNCSR has developed important contacts with the business community. This should enable better cooperation between university and private sector, transfers of ideas, R&D results, …

• In Morocco, the national report outlines 2 types of programmes :

  • Governmental programmes, targeting in particular the equipment in PC and networks :

    • The Ministry of Education in the Fall of 1999 presented a plan for 2008 « one classroom, one multi-media computer »

    • The network Marwan project initiated in 1997, to be the University and Research Internet backbone throughout Morocco

  • International co-operative programmes :

    • The virtual Euro-Mediterranean University project "Méditerranéenne Thetys" realised in cooperation with the European Union. The aim of this e-university is to promote learning in areas such as Health, Environment, High Technologies.

    • Morocco will carry out a two-years project in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is aimed at enhancing teachers skills in the area of new technologies.
      

• The Tunisian policy regarding Education and Information Society mainly consists in :

  • Massive computer equipment (5.3 millions dinars), provisioning of computers courses in secondary schools, access to internet

  • Enable the growth by 300 % of the number of technological graduates to reach 4050 by 2002 from a modest 1600 in 1997. For this, quadruple the Scientist training capacity

  • Reinforce the scientific research sector :

    • Increase in the funds allocated to scientific research by 15% starting in the budget of 2001

    • Attract private companies to fund the research sector

    • Establish new ties between research centers and the private sector
      

• In Turkey, an important challenge consists cutting the severe shortage in scientists and computer graduates. The Higher Education Council started special training programmes.
  

• In Syria, the main axes of the Education policy are the following :

  • the Arab School of sciences and technology, in co-operation with Unesco, will organise regional workshops in 2001 on the theme of "Basic Web technology Skills for Courseware Development"

  • implementation of the Syrian Higher Education and research Network at the four State universities

  • opening of four faculties specialised in Computer Engineering in the four Syrian universities

3.2.5 Health Care

The health sector represents a key challenge. The impact of Information technologies may be extremely important to up grade health sector.

Governments and universities are developing various projects whose applications are :

• Development of electronic medical files to optimise the saving of data per patient

• Development of medical diagnostic support tools

• Optimal use of statistics

• Development of preventive strategies

• Development of networks linking hospitals and universities

Some insightful examples at the country level:

• In Algeria, the Health Documentation National Agency (ANDS) is a public company under the responsability of the Ministry of Health. It has developed a web site that enables access to some of its databases and provides links to some medical encyclopedia. ANDS is involved in projects for instance in the network project that links medical institutions.
  

• In Cyprus, IS policy in the health sector is focused on the computerisation of the Health Information Support System. The objective is to create an informatics programme to support the management of patients and records.
  

• In Jordan, an important telemedicine project is carried out by Jordanian and American hospitals linked by a satellite link. All centers are equipped with videoconferencing capabilities. This link is the support of many applications : tele-diagnosis, diagnosis improvement, training sessions.
  

• The Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation and the Ministry of Health in Palestine are involved in an important project consisting in the implementation of an Information System dedicated to the health sector. The objective is to provide an efficient health management information system. Example of key applications :

  • Support epidemiological surveillance system

  • Development of prevention measures and research strategies

  • Measurement of evolution
    

• In Turkey, the Ministry of Health is carrying out several IT projects, among them, an information system project, a resource management project, a health statistics project.

Examples of key Laws, documents and projects

Algeria	·  February 2001 : a national Commission dealing with education sector created in May 2000 is to present propositions regarding Education & Research strategy ·  August 2000 : law reforming P&T sector : Creation of Algeria Telecom, separation of Posts and Telecommunications, preparation of the opening of telecommunications ·  1998 : law on scientific research and technological development
Cyprus	·  1954 : Telecommunications Law ·  1997 : Information Systems Strategy, computerisation of government bodies ·  Government’s Computerization Plan ·  Computerized Integrated Land Information System project
Egypt	·  National Plan for Telecommunications and Information Technology : defines the IS policy for Egypt · aw 19 of 1998, was followed by a presidential decree no. 101 on April 4th, 1998, establishing the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Israel	·  TEHILA project (acronym for Governmental Infrastructure for the Internet Age) ·  August 2000 : Digital Signature law approved in first instance by the Parliament ·  1999 : Freedom of Information Law: all governmental institutions and local authorities have to publish an annual report, guarantees access to all citizens to governmental information ·  September 1998 : Rosenne Committee Recommendations regarding the telecommunications sector ·  1985 : Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development
Jordan	·  End 2000 : the ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced an "IT legislation package" to be presented to the Parliament within the next few months. The package will focus on: E-commerce Ratification of the 1996 World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Copyright Treaty Amendments to Securities, Companies and Labour Laws Update of Telecommunications, Investment Promotion legislations ·  Reach 2.0 Programme ·  2000 : launch of "e-government strategy" prepared by the Economic Consultative Council · 1995 : vote of a new telecommunications law
Lebanon	·  September 2000 : approbation by the government of a draft bill on E-commerce ·  May 2000 : privatization law ·  June 1999 : Law protecting the Intellectual Property Rights
Malta	·  April 2000 : the Government published its Policy for the Liberalisation for the Telecommunications Sector ·  2000 : Electronic Commerce Bill approved by the parliament, a last lecture has to be done by another Committee ·  2000 : Data Protection Bill approved by the parliament, a last lecture has to be done by another Committee ·  Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) for 1999-2001 : plan to diffuse IT within governmental agencies
Morocco	·  1999 : The Moroccan Ministry of Education presented a plan : "Plan 2008: one classroom, one multimedia-Internet computer" in the Fall of 1999 ·  November 18th, 2000 : Law on Intellectual Property ·  1997 : Law on Telecommunications
Palestine	·  1998 : Law on the Encouragement of investment ·  1996 : Law on Telecommunications
Syria	·  At the higher Education level, Presidential Decree No. 152 of 1997 introduced Informatics as a mandatory teaching subject to all departments and levels in the four Syrian universities ·  1975 : Presidential Decrees separated the postal services from the telecommunications services by creating two establishments : the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE), which have a monopoly on Telecommunications services, and the Post
Tunisia	·  July 2000 : adoption of a bill regulating Electronic Commerce ·  1998 : recommendations on Electronic Commerce strategy elaborated by the National Commission for Electronic Commerce and EDI
Turkey	·  2000 : Approbation by the Parliament of the 5-years Plan ·  2000 : Law on digital broadcasting ·  2000 : draft law on digital signature ·  2000 : draft law to establish a separate Ministry for Information Society