Email
Print
ShareWeekly news roundup - Asia, 26 May 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Created By: vignesh on 26-May-2008 2:01 AM
According to a study Digital Planet 2008 released at the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), the growth of ICT market will exceed $370 billion this year. The study was released at the first day of the World Congress for Information Technology, held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 18-22 May 2008.
According to the report, the top 10 ICT spending countries in descending order are the United States, Japan, China, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, and Spain. In 2008, China jumps to third place from fifth place in 2006, surpassing Germany and the United Kingdom with spending of $327 billion. The report finds out following data:
1. The communications technology sector of the ICT industry continues to dominate ICT spending, comprising more than 57 percent, or $1.9 trillion of all ICT spending in 2007
2. The consumer market comprised nearly 29 percent of ICT products and services in 2007, with $993.8 billion in spending, while spending by business and government accounted for 71 percent, or $2.4 trillion
3. Among 14 vertical industries, the communications sector led spending at $403.6 billion, or 11.5 percent, followed by financial services, at $334.5 billion, or 9.5 percent
WITSA produces Digital Planet biennially, using data provided by Global Insight. The report covers the world's 75 largest ICT buying nations in six regions. ICT spending is measured at the national level, by 14 industry segments plus consumer spending, and by four technology categories.
Malaysia plans to use smartcard technology to facilitate agriculture subsidies
Malaysia will use smartcard technology to better manage and facilitate the dissemination of subsidies to agriculture workers. The solution will provide real time market information to farmers, fisherman and smallholders through the Internet. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said, it is just one of the ways that Malaysia has used ICT to provide solutions to its particular problem in the area of agriculture and food production. Further he added that Malaysia will continue to take all the necessary steps including investing further in ICT infrastructure and services in order to raise its competitiveness and put the country on the fast track toward the information age. Soon government will launch its broadband initiative, which will reach 50 percent of the households by 2010, up from 15.5 percent last year. Soon the government will launch a comprehensive e-payment facility involving over 100 government agencies.
Bahrain becomes an emerging ICT hub in Middle East
Bahrain has added many of ICT tools in becoming an infotech hub in the region. The country is ranked 45th on the Global Information and Communications Technology readiness index. From the last year, the Kingdom improved its position by six ranks and comes behind UAE 29 and Qatar 32. Bahrain is the first country in Middle East to install a computer in 1978 and the first Arab nation to hold an online referendum. The government of Bahrain has also adopted a liberal approach towards Internet regulation and has invested heavily in the IT infrastructure and education. The Kingdom is the first to introduce 3G and 3.5G high-speed download services, the first to go nationwide with WiMax wireless networks and the first to introduce Smartcards.
Electronic Parliament in Slovakia
Slovakian Parliament takes the electronic route through Electronic Parliament to massively reduce the amount of paper that is used. The brainchild of Pavol Paska, Chairaman of the Slovak National Council, these electronic procedures will be in place by the September 2008 session of the National Council. An electronic system will be used to submit legislative Bills, and the amounts of printed materials distributed will be massively reduced with the introduction of the 'Electronic Parliament'. After the implementation of the new system, the National Council will be provided with materials in electronic form, with only 10 to 15 paper printouts produced. The new initiative is expected to result in 90% of savings. The government further informed that the agenda for sittings of the Council would also be sent out electronically.
UN's information technology alliance to focus on major concerns
The UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development is working to spread the benefits of IT. Craig Barrett, chairperson of UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development stated that people are most interested about getting software, hardware, connectivity, local content and ICT education. He further stressed, the global Alliance should concentrate on programmes that focus on these areas such as public-private partnerships, community centres and ICT for schools. There is a need to concentrate on the fundamentals of getting connectivity. Local content can create huge local economic possibilities and on educating people on using the technology and there are marvelous new education programmes out there that are reaching millions of teachers.
U.N. pact for rights of disabled comes into force
A U.N. convention aimed at ensuring equal rights for the world's 650 million disabled people in work, education and social life recently came into force. The pact, the first of its kind and billed by the United Nations as the first new human rights treaty of the 21st Century, took effect 30 days after being ratified by 20 countries that have signed it. The 32-page U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outlaws all forms of discrimination at work on the basis of disability, including in hiring, promotion and working conditions. It requires equal pay for work of equal value.
Contact Name: Vignesh
539 people have read this article
