Asia-Pacific raises IT budgets

Governments across the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, are expected to increase ICT spending this year, but will remain cost-conscious, focusing on investments that will offer the best returns, reports ZDNet.

According to an IDC report, 2011 technology budgets in the region's public sector are expected to grow 7.1% over last year to $34.8 billion.

IDC says Asia-Pacific governments will invest in operational efficiency, business-IT alignment and risk management. In addition, to improve interaction with citizens, the public sector will look to incorporate social analytics into the decision-making process and Web 2.0 engagements.

CrimsonLogic, a provider of e-government solutions and services, is set to develop a national authentication framework (NAF) for the Kingdom of Bahrain, states Science 2.0.

Commissioned by the Bahrain e-Government Authority, the NAF aims to provide an authentication platform that manages and safeguards customer identities across multiple service delivery channels.

Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, CEO of Bahrain e-Government Authority says: "The project will help reduce the operating expenses of government administration by connecting all the agencies' services, enabling users to access them through a single electronic source."

Logica reveals the i2d consortium led by the company won a ten-year outsourcing contract to deliver ICT management services to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), says RTT News.

The programme is aligned with the government's commitment to achieve savings through smarter use of technology, re-use of existing government assets and shared services, says Logica.

The i2d solution will provide SOCA with a platform for improved collaboration with its partners, exploitation of intelligence and case management, as well as creating efficiencies through consolidation of data centres, networks and desktops.