Using information and communications technology (ICT) in ports is essential to ensure accurate, real-time control and pre-planning for port management operations. ICT applications benefit trade facilitation at ports by decreasing time, cost and human error during vessel and cargo operations, and many ports are therefore using ICT as a key tool in their operations. Adopting the combined system as the recommended architecture for ports in ESCWA member countries, this publication includes case studies on best practice in the application of ICT in seaports in selected member countries.

 This document is the trainer's guide prepared in the context of the training workshop entitled “Administrative Decentralization”. It contains the agenda and the expected outcomes of each session. The workshop aims at building the capacities of ministries and stakeholders in decentralization and in local governance, which allows the development of strong institutional frameworks in the public sector.

Digital content has come to play a major role given the vital contribution by information and knowledge in meeting economic and social development goals, and the role of information and communication technologies in producing, categorizing, sharing and disseminating such information. This study, which paves the way for drafting an Arab strategy on content building, represents a follow-up to efforts made by ESCWA in the area of digital content.

In the context of modernization and speeding up economic and social changes, the transition from stable traditional societies to a dynamic modern environment requires adaptation, which translates into sound social policies. This study promotes a coordinated and effective social vision that encompasses social and economic priorities of countries in the ESCWA region through a comparison between developed countries, namely, Canada and Norway, and countries at different stages of development, namely, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Tunisia.