A regional seminar on national information policies in the Arab States

The Arab countries recognize that the capability to utilize information and knowledge as a main resource for social and economic development, is the basis of progress and social well‐being. Increasing investments have already been made by the Arab countries in the setting up and development of libraries, documentation centres, informatic and telecommunication systems. Nevertheless, while the cost‐effective provision of the right information to the right user at the right time and place, has become relatively easy thanks to the current advances in the field of information and telecommunication technologies, still the Arab countries urgently need the social and institutional mechanisms to share, diffuse and utilize information from its various sources. This could be achieved only within the framework of an overall, comprehensive and clearly defined national policy on information systems and services which will, in its turn coordinate and support development efforts at the national and regional levels.