The comments were made as Higgins released the CSSA's latest CEO trends survey, which found that suppliers' morale was surprisingly resilient, despite the economic downturn.
Some 30% of the 760 UK-based software and IT services companies polled said they were either fairly or very pessimistic about their company's prospects in the forthcoming quarter.
Just over half of those polled (52%) revealed that their turnover remained static or fell during the last quarter, while a further 44% expected turnover to remain static or fall during the next quarter.
As businesses trading with Europe approach the 1 January deadline for euro compliance, the survey reported that UK suppliers were evenly split on the single currency. Some 45% thought membership of the single currency would benefit the UK, while 44% disagreed.
Despite this, 67% believed that the UK would join the single European currency within the next five years, but 60% reported that their business had not yet begun preparations for the introduction of the euro in the UK.
CSSA members, like the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) - which presented a critical e-government report to ministers today - thought the Government would not hit its targets.
Almost two thirds of respondents thought the 2005 target for 100% electronic availability of government services would be missed. However, unlike the BCC, two thirds thought the Government should retain the targets.
Commenting on the survey, John Higgins said: "The survey clearly demonstrates that our members are continuing to encounter difficulties in the UK business-to-business IT services and software market.
"However, it is also clear from the survey that many members believe that Government investment in e-government services could act as a catalyst for economic recovery."
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