With enabling ICT policies and focus on digitization, the South Asia and the Mena region can realize a $1.3 trillion cumulative impact on its GDP by 2020, creating more than 7.2 million new businesses and 13 million new jobs, a report said.

The region can also achieve savings of $12.9 billion through the adoption of smart grids over the next decade, added the region-wide ICT Policy Assessment and Digitization Study conducted by Samena Telecommunications Council, the tri-regional non-profit telecommunications association for South Asia and Mena.

The study assesses and evaluates the existence of digitization and enabling ICT policies, and quantifies how accelerated digitization can dramatically enhance the region’s socio-economic development through facilitated adoption of digital services and applications.

The findings have been compiled into a full regional-level report as well as 10 country-level policy and digitization case studies, conducted specifically on UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan.

Bocar A BA, CEO of Samena Telecommunications Council said, “Digitization is on the rise all around the world. However, in the Samena region, its pace needs to increase, because we are missing out on many opportunities.”

“Even though this region has made significant progress in improving its digital infrastructure, much work is required on implementing effective ICT policies and ensuring that existing polices have the required digitization progress measurement and monitoring tools. As a part of the Study, we have proposed the ‘SMART Samena’ concept, which requires important requirements to be fulfilled by engaging multiple stakeholders.

“This study is a unique knowledge tool that will assist the Samena Council and its membership in initiating and participating in global ICT policy imperatives. We now look forward to being engaged with regional policy-makers more effectively, and invite industry stakeholders to consider making the findings of the Samena Council’s Study an integral part of their knowledge base,” he added.

The study has revealed five major policy imperatives for realizing the “SMART Samena” concept. These include Sustainable, innovative, secure and vibrant ICT sector; Managed and risk mitigated digital transformation of economic sectors; Advanced ICT capital; Regional and local collaboration platforms; and Tracking and monitoring mechanisms.

In line with the objectives of the Samena Council’s Study, Dr Hamadoun I Touré, Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), provided his expert assessment of the digital revolution that the telecommunications industry is currently experiencing.

Dr Touré said: “In today’s dynamic regional telecommunications industry with the growing importance of digitization, shaping the digital future requires policy-makers and regulators to understand what their new role is and how to best execute it. To do so, they need the best possible market information and analysis.

“ITU is committed to helping the world reap the benefits of today’s digital environment and is privileged to contribute to the Samena Council’s study.”

Key features of the ten case-study country packs include a global ICT rank analysis and evolution in global standing, existing level and impact of digitization across sectors in each country, potential for advancement and resulting impact of digitization on the overall economy of each country as well as level of investments required. – TradeArabia News Service