RIYADH, 18 June 2004 — Saudi Arabia ranks 45th in terms of e-readiness among the world’s 60 largest economies, according to a study conducted jointly by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and IBM. But the study, on parameters of connectivity, business practices and legal environment, estimates it is only a matter of time before Saudi Arabia figures among developed countries in terms of e-readiness because of its rapid growth in the field of information technology.
E-readiness will also ensure the growth of e-commerce in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is one of the three Arab countries on the EIU list along with Egypt in 51st and Algeria placed on the 58th position in terms of e-readiness.
The EIU’s e-readiness rankings used quantitative and qualitative criteria organized into six categories including connectivity infrastructure, business environment, consumer and business adoption of e-business practices, legal and policy environment, social and cultural infrastructure and supporting services.
The EIU ranking applied only to the world’s largest economies and did not take into consideration the status of GCC countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, which already boast much higher e-readiness rankings. “This global recognition gives a further momentum to the development of IT in Saudi Arabia, which currently constitutes 60 per cent of the entire GCC’s IT market”, said Basel Humaidah, Business Development Manager, Al Falak, a leading pan-Gulf IT solution provider with a strong base in Saudi Arabia.
