16 October 2001

Press Release

Dubai Internet City (DIC) Director General, Mohammad Gergawi and Palestinian delegation agree on Palestine@DIC office.

Mohammad Gergawi, Director General of DIC, meeting this morning with Mr. Ibrahim Barham and Dr. Mashhour Abudaka of PITA.

Mr. Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Director General of Dubai Internet City (DIC) met today with Mr. Ibrahim Barham, Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian IT Association, and others representing the IT sector in Palestine, at the DIC Pavilion at GITEX 2001 to talk about a planned office for Palestine at DIC.

The meeting resulted in an agreement in principle to launch a Palestinian office at DIC, to be called Palestine@DIC. More meetings are expected to finalise the details of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.

Mr. Gergawi told the Palestinians to “consider us as partners” and also expressed his belief that IT is key for the future strength of the Palestinian nation. Mr. Ibrahim Barham discussed the growing IT sector in Palestine, pointing out to Mr. Gergawi the governmental support for IT development, in addition to the organised and dynamic private sector. He said that the Palestinian IT sector considers this year’s participation in GITEX to be the first step toward International markets, and that the planned presence at DIC will be key in expanding into Arab markets and developing business partnerships in the region. Mr. Barham also said that the Palestinian sector views DIC and the IT industry in Dubai as role models for future Palestinian development.

Seven Palestinian IT companies are exhibiting at the Palestinian Pavilion at GITEX 2001 at stand 820. The companies are showcasing a range of products and services. 28 custom-designed software products are on exhibit, for a range of applications including banking & finance, accounting, education administration and educational software, internet-related applications, health and tourism systems, and human resources management.

The exhibiting companies include the leading software and outsourcing companies in Palestine. They expect their participation in GITEX 2001 to provide further contacts with potential outsourcing clients and business partners. In addition, the companies are demonstrating a range of Arabised software products aimed at regional markets.

Visit the Palestinian Pavilion at Stand 820, Hall 8.

For more information on exhibiting companies, contact details below.

For more information on GITEX exhibitors, and IT sector facts and figures, and to arrange interviews, please contact:

Amanda Scothern or Amjad Malki, Palestinian Delegation Press Team

Ph in Dubai (10-19 Oct): +971 (0)50 585 9942, (Ph in Palestine: +970/2 2 2409105/7)

e-mail: amanda@ellamtam.com, malki@ellamtam.com

Contact for comment:

Dr. Mashhour Abudaka (Executive Director, PITA)

Ph:at GITEX, Dubai: +971 50 585 9788 e-mail: abudaka@pita-palestine.org

Dr. Samir Abdullah (General Director, Paltrade)

e-mail: sabdullah@paltrade.org

Omar Sahili (PITA Advisor & IT Sector Manager, DAI Inc.)

Ph at GITEX, Dubai: +971 50 585 9798 e-mail: Omar_Sahili@dai.com