The 1st The three-day Gulf e-Government conference concluded with a call, among others, for a creation of practical framework on multiple levels and in different fields to exchange regional expertise and benefit from the best international practices through organizing similar meetings, specialized workshops and Gulf e-government awards. The conference suggested establishing a special division for e-government at the GCC Secretariat-General's website to enhance joint work, besides mooting expanding the cooperation among the GCC countries to discuss the international indicators in enhancing their level as well as exploring the possibility of developing a Gulf index. The conference stressed the importance of taking necessary measures and promulgating laws that secure integrating IT&C in all the functions and operations undertaken by public and private sector establishments as well as civil society organizations. It also encouraged providing these organizations and individuals with incentives to encourage them to benefit from the e-government services. The importance of employing new technologies to improve different sectors of society, especially people with special needs, was also raised. Moreover, increasing investment in human resources in digital society fields by establishing partnerships with higher education institutions and providing individuals and public and private sector organizations with skills that ensure their integration with digital society were also deliberated. The conference suggested a study to set up institutional or sectoral committees to activate coordination among the public organizations and expedite the implementation of e-government programs. Adopting the best international practices to reach the integrated e-government level selecting programs that may be shared by the GCC countries to create model projects for implementing the integrated e-government approach and creating comprehensive society service networks, especially in the impoverished areas to enable individuals to benefit from the e-government services were also highlighted during the meeting. Dr Mohammed bin Ali Al Wahaibi, Communications Under-Secretary at the Oman Transport and Communications Ministry, said the recommendations will serve as a basis for the respective departments to ensure success of its plans.
