The Asian continent has got a cause for celebration. And, there is no reason why the Asian countries should not celebrate the success of e-Governments when two countries — Taiwan and Singapore, are placed ahead of United States in e-Government, according to the Global e-Government Survey 2005 undertaken by researchers at Brown University. In the overall e-Government performance, Taiwan and Singapore have successively been ahead of the United States for the second year in a row. It is seemingly exhilarating enough that the Asian countries have established an unassailable lead and acquired four of the five top spots. Amongst the EU Member States, only two countries — Germany (ranked 7th) and Ireland (ranked 9th), could make it to the top ten.
The scene of e-Government in Asian countries is witnessing a dramatic change. Some countries have already achieved distinction in e-Government; some have already embarked on their journey towards e-Government, while a few others are yet to pick up the threads. Significantly, the focus of e-Government is today shifting from a technology-driven approach to process change, including organisational adaptability, political support, partnerships, and embedding in user communities – the success factors, which were often found lacking in earlier projects. For those Asian countries still to come to grips with the very process of e-Government and adopt it in all earnest, opportunities lie abound for them to learn from best practices from their well-acquainted, advanced Asian neighbours, while fully understanding the need to create a common ground of equitable learning that would facilitate a process of overall development of the region.
egov Asia 2006 — the Asian e-Government Conference, being held at Bangkok, Thailand, from April 26-28, is a step forward toward facilitating this change process, while offering itself as a knowledge-sharing platform and a forum for policymakers, practitioners, industry leaders and academicians of Asia-Pacific nations to carry forward the e-Government vision of the region and consolidate them into actionable program through collaborative learning and partnerships. Eminent experts and senior government officers from various parts of Asia would be assembling for discussing e-Government developments in their respective countries. The discussions would include topics such as Leadership reflections for e-Government; Issues and Implementation in e-Government: Asian Perspectives; e-Applications; country case studies and many other pertinent topics.
Undoubtedly so, the study by Brown University on e-Government ranking is in itself a cause for the Asian countries to celebrate the success of their respective e-Governments. As such, egov Asia 2006 conference has come at a no better time than this. The conference is surely likely to emerge as a platform to take the e-Government vision and movement forward, and provide opportunities to the Asian countries to excel further and walk away in merriment in coming future.
So let’s all say three cheers for Asian e-Government success!
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