Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT4672
2006-12-18 13:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

NEW CENTRAL AGENCY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND

Tags:  ETTC ECPS 
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VZCZCXRO7790
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #4672 3521357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181357Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7915
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS KUWAIT 004672 

SIPDIS

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EB/CIP/BA FOR GIBBS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC ECPS
SUBJECT: NEW CENTRAL AGENCY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
E-GOVERNMENT WELCOMES USG ASSISTANCE


UNCLAS KUWAIT 004672

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EB/CIP/BA FOR GIBBS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC ECPS
SUBJECT: NEW CENTRAL AGENCY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
E-GOVERNMENT WELCOMES USG ASSISTANCE



1. On 17 December, Econoff met with Director-General Ali
Al-Shuraidah of the newly established Central Agency for
Information Technology (CAIT). CAIT was established by the
Council of Ministers in August 2006 to act as the central
coordinating authority for all government IT matters to
include: policy, budgeting, project evaluation, training,
national programs, and promotion of the IT industry in
Kuwait. Al-Shuraidah said the agency was modeled after the
IDA in Singapore. Its board, which reports directly to the
Minister for Cabinet Affairs, is comprised of under
secretaries from the Ministries of Finance, Interior,

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Defense, Communications, Planning, and Education. The
organization currently has 310 staff permanently assigned,
but Shuraidah complained that a number of important functions
still reside in individual ministries over which he has
limited control. He added that each government agency still
selects its own hardware and applications.


2. Shuraidah said CAIT's current priority was to finalize
its four-year ICT master plan for submission to the Council
of Ministers. He estimated that its cumulative four-year
budget would be $2-3 billion. Some of the principal elements
included in the plan are: a national IT literacy program, a
program to stimulate growth of the IT industry in Kuwait,
design and construction of a "Kuwait Information Network" to
include all government agencies, and the rollout of a robust
e-government program. The five key components of the
e-government program will be: e-services, e-payment,
e-procurement, e-consulting (for government employees to
communicate with international consultants),and
e-participation (a forum for private citizens to discuss
issues with government officials). CAIT's goal is for
citizens to be able to access most government services
through the e-government network via home computers, 24-hour
public terminals, and mobile devices.


3. Shuraidah expressed interest in traveling to the U.S. to
visit operational e-government sites and meet with
individuals responsible for developing, launching, and
maintaining e-government programs. Specifically, he was
interested in sharing best practices and discussing
strategies for overcoming the "Digital Divide." He would
also like to review case studies of companies that have used
government IT programs and policies to drive national
economic growth. He cited Singapore and Costa Rica as
examples. Finally, Shuraidah mentioned that he would welcome
assistance with IT budgeting and the selection of relevant
performance indicators.
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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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