Syria, recently involved in intense peace negotiations with Israel, has been tabbed as the Arab region's most well-prepared country even though it is one of the least technologically advanced. International Monitoring 's favorable view of Syria legitimizes a comprehensive, three-year campaign to become Y2K compliant, led by the president's son Bashar Al Assad. The main concern here is that International Monitoring was only testing government-written certificates. However, a Syrian computer engineer in Dubai, who requested anonymity, believes the report. Egypt, which boasts the Arab world's largest population and oldest economy, faces its own challenges.
Jordanian officials are also confident.
In Jordan, the private sector is heavily automated but the public sector is not. The Central Bank of Jordan said most of the country's banks are now ready. The national airport is IATA-certified, while the national airlines company had just announced full compliance and even suspended flights to some regional noncomplaint airports. No signs were received from the industrial sector, including the country's only oil refinery. However, Jordan usually keeps a 3-month emergency supply of oil.