Keep the public informed - e-government's role in the wake of September 11

The constantly expanding role of e-government was underlined by Dr Simon Moores, adviser to the UK Government's e-Envoy Office and "futurist" thinker, who is to chair a major e-government conference in Dubai, organised by the Institute for International Research.

"The events of September 11 have shown that the thirst of citizens in an increasingly wired society for timely and in-depth information will only increase," he said.

"It is the responsibility and the challenge of e-government to give them what they want. Increased accountability is just one of the requirements of e-government managers."

Governments throughout the world are introducing e-government internet portals through which their citizens can obtain information as well as carry out transactions such as paying taxes or fees. The Dubai Government's interactive portal www.dubai.ae went online in October.

Preliminary analysis since September 11 of countries with well-developed e-government sites has shown that the public turns to the government for answers in such times.

"That means more money and more manpower for e-government sites," said Dr Moores, chairman of The Research Group, who will be chairing the Middle East e-Government Forum at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai, which opens on 3rd February 2002.

"E-government website awareness must be introduced into senior management thinking and government agencies must learn how to communicate not simply automate old and tired processes," said Dr Moores. "That takes resources, including talent."

The Middle East e-Government Forum will hear of e-government developments throughout the region, including Dubai, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as international case studies from Australia and Europe. Government transparency, e-government security and regional infrastructure readiness are high on the agenda for the forum.

The expert panel of international speakers includes top ranking executives from Intel, the Arab Advisors Group, Symantec, Electronic Data Systems, Oracle and A.T. Kearney.