The Role of Ict in Building a Knowledge-Based Society

The Role of ICT in Building a Knowledge-based Society
Sherif H Kamel Associate Dean, Executive Education School of Business, Economics and Communication The American University in Cairo, Egypt Abstract Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for changing, competitive and dynamic local and global markets, representing an invaluable vehicle for business and socioeconomic development and introducing new forms and structures of organizations that are no longer affected by geographical or time barriers. Egypt, as a developing nation, with an economy in transition, has realized the potentials of ICT since the 1960s and has increasingly invested in building its ICT infostructure and infrastructure during 1980s but it was in the late 1990s that ICT was put on the national agenda as an enabler for socioeconomic development and gateway to the knowledge society. Building the ICT infostructure and infrastructure will realize quantum leaps in the development process if they are coupled with a vision that engages and empowers different stakeholders in the society including the government, the public and private sectors and the civil society as well as different interest groups irrespective of their location whether urban or remote, gender or background. Moreover, it is important to emphasize that ICT could contribute to development if different building blocks are provided including an informed society, an agile environment, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a dynamic and resourceful financial mechanism. Introduction Egypt, through its ancient history that extends over 3000 years BC has witnessed massive information flows through different means since the era of the Pharaohs. Walking through history, life and development along the Nile was paralleled by a different type of an information society. This included inscription on Rosetta stones and papyrus papers and the establishment of the library of Alexandrina, which was considered in

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