ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF EAST AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS WEBSITES AND SUPPORT TO SMEs IN BUSINESS INFORMATION PROVISION

The electronic presence globally through the Internet has revolutionized the way businesses are conducted and managed. To expand the markets and improve on productivity, the global appearance is vital today. This is not only making many business entities to create websites but also governments world over to rethink on their e-global visibility. This study based on desk research approach to data collection with guided observation and assessment guides assessed the quality of the websites of East African Government Ministries responsible for trade, the provision of Review business information to SMEs through East African Ministries of Trade websites and recommends appropriate measures to be adopted for the design of quality websites and effective business information provision through Government websites. The findings indicate a relatively good compliance to standard parameters of website development but poor provision of business information to SMEs using website. It recommends among others the need for Governments of East African Countries to make the necessary efforts to gather and synthesize the needed business information by SMEs and put it on the websites