Tech Growth Inevitable, Impacting Economy: Strategies to Boost Economy - Essay Sample

Introduction

Technology is inevitable in this century, and its increased growth is influencing every sector in the economy of any country. The use of technology y has influenced nations to boost technology connectivity, both locally and internationally. Technology is used in enhancing the security of a country as well as intensifying business enterprises. The governments are establishing various strategies to help boost the economy. Technology and innovation will play a huge role in the realization of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, whose primary aim is to reduce the country's dependence on oil b diversifying the economy, developing public sectors providing services such as infrastructure, health, tourism, recreation as well as education (Reda, 2019).

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Information technology has been the creation of a conducive business environment and promoting a relationship between the government and the firms through smooth operations. In KSA, information technology has promoted the growth of enterprises through the generation of ideas and innovations. Technology has also increased production, promoted employment, and increased revenues for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Reda, 2019). Technology and its use in different sectors have helped in improving the Gross Domestic Product of the Country. Technology can, therefore, not be undermined in the realization of KSA's vision 2030.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims at increasing the non-oil revenues from $ 43.9 billion to $ 267 billion by 2030 (Reda, 2019). The aim of the vision 2030 also is to increase the share of non-oil exports. The application of information technology will be applied in the synchronization and coordination of all government activities. For the timely implementation of different aspects of Vision 2030, information technology will be used. Through the use of technology, the government and firms relationship will be enhanced and thereby making it easy for firms to operate. Technology facilitates quick processing of business permits and other documents needed to start and effectively operate a business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

KSA has established steps aimed at realizing the technology-based objectives started in Vision 2030. This reform agenda launched in 2016 aims at transforming KSA into a digital trade hub. Technology will help significantly in increasing the productivity of the young Saudi Arabian population. Approximately 58.5 percent of the population in Saudi Arabia is below 30 years (Reda, 2019). These are highly skilled people, and when trained on the use of technology, they can be highly productive.

5G technologies are expected to increase KSA's revenue from the telecom market by more than $ 8 billion and more than $ 19 billion GDP.

Additionally, the network is anticipated to create approximately 20,000 jobs in the Information Communication Technology sector. Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to launch the fifth-generation network. Using 5G technology allows the country to use the robotics, virtual reality as well as the Internet of Things Technologies. The use of the fifth-generation network is expected to increase by 103 percent in the next ten years (Reda, 2019). The network penetration will be measured through the impact that it will have on rural areas.

Lack of effective infrastructure affects services in education, healthcare, tourism, and other critical areas of the economy. The fifth-generation network is expected to facilitate e-sports, smart cities, digital entertainment, as well as smart homes. Apart from increasing the wireless internet four times, KSA has increase network coverage by approximately 50 percent. This is equivalent to approximately one million houses. Additionally, the government has embraced the use of technology by promoting 100% access to the internet in remote areas (Reda, 2019). This has promoted eased the accessibility of the services provided by the government by reducing the cost, saving time, and increasing service efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector (Alshehri, & Drew, 2010). This has been the top priority of the KSA government and all its agencies. The government is implementing the use of technologies such as the "Yesser" program.

"Yesser" program is an e-Government program created by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in 2005 to facilitate continuous growth and development in the country (Al Ghoson, 2010). This online portal offers approximately 2,500 services to the Saudi Arabian people. The program is controlled by the Minister of Finance, Minister of Communication Information Technology and Communication Information Technology Commission.

"Yesser" program uses mobile applications that help in shifting the government agencies to the e-services phase. One of these applications is "M-Gov," which is designed to establish an environment that promotes service delivery. The Maak application can be downloaded and used in any android or iPhone device (Al Ghoson, 2010). The application is designed to create a uniform infrastructure for all services offered by the government. It also acts as a template for the applications used in government agencies. The application also facilitates the launching of a different portal proving government services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, KSA's vision 2030 is an ambitious program whose aim is to shift the attention from natural resources like oil and increase the revenues from non-oil sources such as tourism and recreation. Technology and innovation play a very significant role in the realization of the vision. The government has made use of the advancement in technology and programs that facilitate the provision of government aspects. One of the major programs implemented by the Saudi Arabian government is the "Yesser" program, which shifts the services from the government agencies to an electronic phase.

References

Alshehri, M., & Drew, S. (2010). Challenges of e-government services adoption in Saudi Arabia from an e-ready citizen perspective. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 66, 1053-1059.

Al Ghoson, A. M. (2010). IT strategic plan for e-government Program in Saudi Arabia (YESSER). In IABR & ITLC Conference Proceedings, Orlando, FL, USA.

Reda, A. (2019). Unlocking the digital economy potential of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Retrieved 5 March 2020, from https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-unlocking-the-digital-economy-potential-of-the-kingdom-of-Saudi-arabia/$File/ey-unlocking-the-digital-economy-potential-of-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia.pdf