The IT services sector of Gulf States will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 to 10 per cent through 2015, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait leading the growth, said a report.

The Saudi IT market value is expected to reach $4.9 billion by 2015, with per capita IT spend to hit $186, followed by the UAE and Kuwait where demand for IT products and services continues to grow, added the report by Business Monitor International (BMI).

These three countries currently account for over 75 per cent of the Gulf’s IT services market.

“Governments, private companies and institutions each have their own important roles to play in the region’s development. But their greater responsibility is to create an environment of cooperation, collaboration and trust,” said Jamil Ezzo, director general of International Computer Driving License (ICDL) GCC Foundation.

“Digital competence is one area that requires more attention as GCC governments pursue their transformation into knowledge-based societies. We urge the region’s ICT players to join hands with government and at the same time support our Foundation’s vision of establishing a new ICT landscape in the region that strongly promotes digital readiness,” he added.

ICDL GCC Foundation is urging all members of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to embrace more partnerships with governments to accelerate and sustain growth.

The GCC area is expected to become a hotspot for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in 2012 and beyond amidst the region-wide pursuit of broader and more sustainable infrastructural growth.

“By placing IT skills-building as an integral part of Gulf education, we prepare youths to become more competitive in their future careers,” Ezzo added.

“In the same manner, by promoting ICT-oriented PPPs, we make Gulf States more responsive to the needs of today’s predominantly IT-dependent business environments.

By engaging in more joint initiatives, the ICT community helps create a mutually-beneficial framework for region-wide development,” concluded Ezzo. – TradeArabia News Service