The adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the key factors\r\nexplaining growth discrepancies across countries in general and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\r\nin particular. ICT has been the most dynamic component of investment in recent years, and\r\nuntil recently the explosive growth of investment in ICT has been at the center of the ââ?¬Ë?new\r\neconomyââ?¬â?¢ paradigm, shifting the Kingdomââ?¬â?¢s reliance on growth away from oil. ICT investment\r\ncontributes to capital deepening in all industrial and commercial sectors, thereby assisting in\r\ngenerating economic growth that is more sustainable in the long term.\r\nThe main objective of this research study is to identify the impact of ICT investment in Saudi\r\nArabia and the role that the government has played through its series of ââ?¬Ë?five year plansââ?¬â?¢. The\r\ncurrent circumstances in Saudi Arabia relating to IT usage and development as well as the\r\nfactors affecting economic growth are examined and analyzed. This research also assesses the\r\nstrategies and policies relating to ICT and its investment in Saudi Arabia, and discusses the role\r\nof public and private organizations as well as educational institutions at all levels.\r\nThe findings reveal that, despite the considerable strides made by the government, certain\r\nfactors need addressing, in particular, the current state of the Kingdomââ?¬â?¢s ICT infrastructure, the\r\nneed for adequate numbers of skilled personnel to meet the anticipated growth in ICT, the need\r\nfor educational establishments to incorporate ICT more fully into their programs, the need to\r\ndevelop the financial markets to facilitate further investment in ICT, and the need to raise the\r\npublicââ?¬â?¢s awareness of the importance of ICT to the countyââ?¬â?¢s prosperity. Accordingly, a number\r\nof recommendations are made.
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