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A recent report indicated that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are capable of developing websites offering the best possible electronic services.
For example, Bahrain succeeded in advancing by some 50 positions to clinch 15th rank worldwide in e-government.
A few days ago the Centre for Public Policy at Brown University in the US released its Global E-Government 2007. The institute started publishing its annual report since 2001.
The report is noted for its credibility, partly for having an in-depth look into websites in some 200 countries. The latest study analysed a total of 1,687 websites in 198 states.
Among the sites reviewed in the study are those of executive (prime minister and legislative parliament) and judicial (courts) portals. Other websites relate to economic development, business regulation, military, transportation, taxation, tourism and foreign affairs.
Main variables
The index is based on features related to three main variables, namely online information, service delivery and public access.
Features looked into include online publications and databases, video and audio clips, privacy and security, disability access and user fees. The index ranks countries on the basis of maximum 100 points.
North America emerged as the best region in e-governance, having collected some 45 points. This region includes the US and Canada, which occupied the 4th and the 6th positions worldwide, respectively.
For its part, Asia (south, southeast and north) replaced Western Europe as the second best region in the world by earning almost 40 points.
Western Europe was relegated to the third best position globally. It collected only 37 points.
Not surprisingly, Africa occupied the worst position by earning merely 26 points.
The other seven countries completing the top ten positions are the US, the UK, Canada, Portugal, Australia, Turkey and Germany, respectively.
Clearly, Turkey has the best e-governmenance system in the Muslim world.
Yet the report ranked Bahrain as the most capable e-government in the GCC and Arab countries at large. Surprisingly enough, Bahrain managed to advance 50 positions in a single year and thus earned 15th position worldwide, better than some European countries such as Italy, Spain and Finland, to name a few.
Qatar was pushed to the second best place in the GCC, having lost 18 positions in a span of one year. Yet, the report ranked Qatar 42nd in 2007 versus 24th place in 2006. For its part, the UAE improved its ranking to No 52 worldwide in the latest report after advancing by 18 positions. This marked the second best improvement for a GCC state after Bahrain.
Likewise, Kuwait managed to improve its ranking to No 79 globally, which translates into advances by two positions.
Also, Saudi Arabia advanced by nine positions to clinch 89th ranking worldwide. This result translated into Oman replacing Saudi Arabia as the worst e-government in the region.
The sultanate lost six positions and thus pushed to 91st global ranking. It is believed the Omani retreat can be partly attributed to the massive Gono cyclone that hit the country in June (this study was conducted during June and July).
Certainly, GCC authorities have the opportunity to deliver more services electronically. So is due to proliferation of internet in the region. Also, a capable e-government can help overcoming bureaucracy. Eventually, authorities and users alike can claim victory.
The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain.
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