Dubai Plans High-Tech Gathering for April

A high-level technology panel comprising senior officials from the Middle
Eastern emirate Dubai’s government and
private sector will visit Gitex Cairo, being held from April 2 to 5, 1999,
to make a general
evaluation of technologies displayed by major international IT companies.

The
panel will comb the exhibition for latest software, hardware, security systems,
system integration and networking technology to implement the proposed
e-commerce project that will transform the emirate into a hub for information
technology and electronic commerce.

Visualizing Dubai as a future global venue for the development of electronic
commerce, H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Defence Minister of the UAE, had earlier directed formulation of the
panel, which will undertake a thorough study and devise a focused strategy for
the e-commerce project. The panel, directed to formulate a proposal within six
months, will study setting up of a virtual market on the Internet for shoppers
and also examine the possibility of providing interactive information on
government departments and their activities, tourist-related information as
well as secured banking and other financial services on the Internet.

“The panel is confident that Gitex Cairo, which is the sister exhibition to
Gitex Dubai, the third largest IT exhibition in the world, is an ideal forum to
scan for latest technologies and innovations in the field of information
technology,” said Mohammed
Al Gergawi, deputy director-general, Department of Economic Development, Dubai.

“The electronic commerce highway that Dubai plans to build will link
the emirate with the world as well as promote trade and investment in the
country and to link Dubai with the world through the World Wide Web.”

“The panel will undertake an extensive research on products and services, which
support this project, at display in Gitex Cairo. Egypt has substantial manpower
working in the IT sector and it is one of the most important markets in the
region for developing and Arabising Internet programs,” he said.

The project will enable Dubai to provide a whole range of services
including government, tourism, banking and shopping on the Internet.

The panel, which will be led by Salem Al Shaaer, manager, finance and
administration, Department of Economic Development in Dubai, will include
representatives from banks, trading groups, credit card companies, IT companies
and others.

“We need to tap their expertise to ensure the success of the project. The
strength of this project lies in the fact that it is promoted by Government of
Dubai,’ said Al Shaser. “In addition, the strategic location of Dubai, its
reputation in the
international market and the events that are already held in Dubai will further
improve the projects prospects.”

Gitex Cairo is the international debut of Gitex, the Middle Easts premier IT
show. The event has received unequivocal support from the major IT associations
in Egypt including the Egyptian Software Association, the Egyptian Society for
Computer Companies, Egyptian High Tech Association and the Internet Society of
Egypt.

Gitex Cairo has attracted a large number of leading international, regional and
local companies, who aim at developing their share in the Egyptian market–the
fastest growing market in the Arab world.

Gitex Cairo will feature the latest in hardware computer products, system
hardware, software solutions, desktop publishing, office automation,
multimedia, multilingual applications, networking and business communications,
on-line information services, mobile computing, power systems, office systems,
mainframe and storage technology.

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