Dawn of the information age
Tunisia is determined to catch up with the First World in the computer race. A massive campaign to computerise
all sectors of the economy is, in fact, already in full swing and is seen as a crucial element in enhancing the
competitiveness and efficiency of the country's private and public enterprises.
Companies based in Tunisia are already producing innovative software packages for both the local and foreign
markets, and as more highly-qualified programmers come on stream, the industry is expected to carve out an important
international niche for itself.
But if this is at the glamour end of the IT spectrum, a comprehensive national programme aims to make Tunisia
as computer-literate as resources and time will allow. Three years ago, a new cabinet post, that of Secretary of
State for Computer Science, was created to oversee this technological transformation. The government recently announced
that in order to promote very widespread use of the computer, inexpensive and easily accessible sets are to be
introduced into the local market.
Several IT-related projects, most of them already underway, are expected to bring about far-reaching changes
to Tunisian society. For example, the Civil Status Management Project, better known as the 'Madania' network, will
electronically link all the country's city halls. This will allow officials to provide better and faster services
to the public - for example in issuing civil status documents from virtually any spot on the Tunisian map.
Another ongoing project, the National Geographic Information System, or 'Geonat' is setting up a digital information
infrastructure which will provide users with a comprehensive geographic reference for the whole country.
Even small- and medium-sized companies are being encouraged to make use of IT by connecting to the Internet.
On several occasions, President Ben Ali himself has urged the business community to reach out and take the new
opportunities being offered by the Net and other information technologies.
Perhaps the most vigorous effort is being directed where it is most likely to be effective - at schools. Two
of the prime objectives of Tunisia's remodelled education system are universal computer literacy and fluency in
English, the global language of business.
A recent World Bank report on how far developing countries had gone in their preparations for integrating into
the global economy, states that Tunisia's transition into the 21st century information age is both rapid and smooth.
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