ICT and Building a Knowledge-Based Society in Egypt

Synopsis Of Information, Knowledge And Ict Strategy Evolution In Egypt

Through its ancient history that extends over 3000 years B.C, Egypt has witnessed massive information flows from Rosetta stones and papyrus papers, to the establishment of the Library of Alexandria. During the middle ages, Arabic manuscripts became one of the most common means for information and knowledge dissemination. In the early 19^th century, Egypt witnessed the publishing of the first journal and the establishment of the first national archive system (Kamel, 1998a).

Yet in the 20^th century and prior to 1985, Egypt was perceived as being rich in data but poor in information. Computers were viewed as ends and not means; accumulated bureaucracy through red tape and the existence of islands of innovation with no connecting bridges restrained the production of information (Kamel, 1999; Kamel, 1998b). Moreover, government focus was on technical issues and not decision outcomes; multi-sector coordination was poor, synergy between information and socioeconomic development strategies was lacking and a clear case of the ‘brain drain’ became evident. Given how important and useful ICT has proven to be to socioeconomic development elsewhere around the world, building the required information infrastructure for Egypt was a necessity. The strategy deployed had to have a two-tier approach. Society with its different stakeholders can contribute in shaping the infostructure, which in turn will effectively contribute in the socioeconomic development and growth. (World Bank, 2006). Table 1 demonstrates the development of the information society in Egypt during the 20^th and 21^st century (Kamel, 2007).