ICT Week 2004
The Arab Technology for Development Conference
September, 21st - 24th
Biel, Beirut-Lebanon
Day One: Tuesday 21 September
16:00-17:00 Opening Ceremony
· Arab Ministers and their representatives
· Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group
· Professional Computer Association
· Promofair
· Ministers of Telecommunications, Economy & Administrative Reform
Day Two: Wednesday 22 September
16:00 - 17:30 Session I: Telecommunications Regulation in Lebanon
Telecom experts agree that privatization, with its power to enlarge the market and reduce the debt, cannot go forward without independent regulatory body. The government passed the Telecommunications Act, Law 431 in July 2002. This stipulated that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) would be established within three months of that date, but the government has failed to establish it!
Session’s Chairman: Mr. Ebrahim Al-Haddad, Arab Unit Telecom Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Speakers:
· H.E Jean Louis Cardahi, Minister of Telecommunications
Strategic approach to the Telecommunications Sector
· Alan Horne, Eurostrategies
· Jalal Fawaz, Professional Computers Association
· Zouhair Berro, Consumer's rights protection
· Bassam Tueini, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Interventions and comments from key investors, industrialists and users
· Response of the minister and Q&A
17:30 - 18:30 Session II: The Telecommunications Boom in the Region
The Arab telecom sector promises significant development and growth pushed by the liberalization and the privatization of telecom markets in addition to the deployment of the latest technologies. This discussion panel will discuss the policy, industry and technology trends in telecom, which will drive business in the coming year.
Session’s Chairman: HE Jean-Louis Cardahi, Minister of Telecommunications
Speakers:
· Mr. Ghassan Hasbani, Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton
Industry Trends
· Mr. Ebrahim Al-Haddad, Arab Unit Telecom Development Bureau, ITU
Policy Trends in Telecom operations
· Dr. Ahmed El Sherbini, Director of National Telecommunications Institute, Egypt
Egyptian Information Society Initiative
· Mr. Mohammad Shabib, General Manager, MTC-Liban
Mobile Business Trends
· Mrs. Regina Botter, CEO, FAL-DETE
Mobile Business Trends
· Mr. Amine Mardam Bey
Day Three: Thursday 23 September
16:00 – 17:00 Session III: National outlook to Develop ICT Industry
The ICT industry has grown in the Middle East and the Arab World to become one of the major vectors for economical growth. Today some Middle Eastern countries are taking leading positions in term of ICT initiatives among the international community while others are lacking. What are the challenges and the opportunities?
Session’s Chairman: HE Karim Pakradoni, Minister of state for Administrative Reform
Speakers:
· Mrs. Diana Bou Ghanem, Ministry of Telecommunications in Lebanon
· Dr. Raymond Khoury, OMSAR
National ICT priorities
· Mr. Michel Nseir, Professional Computer Association
Software Development
· Mr. Radwan Habli, Head of ICT and e-Commerce Division, Ministry of
Economy and Trade
Using ICT as an economic development tool
17:00 - 17:15 Discussion
17:15 - 18:15 Session IV: Legal Framework (Panel discussion)
All the countries have recognized the importance of a supportive regulatory environment by undertaking new policy initiatives and legislative reforms. This panel discussion outlines the obstacles, challenges on legal framework and gives actionable recommendations.
Session’s Chairman: MP Ghenwa Jalloul, Head of the ICT committee in the parliament
Speakers:
· Dr. Fadi Makki, Director General, Ministry of Economy and Trade
· Dr. Toni Issa, President A.D.I.L
· Ms.Valerie Sedallian, expert in computer and information technology law
· Mr. Ali Nahleh, IT Director, Banque du Liban
18:15 - 18:30 Discussion
18:30 - 19:30 Session V: Open Source (Panel Discussion)
2004 is a year of accelerating change and IT complexity. Will “open source” solve the integration problems? What advantages and disadvantages will “open source” bring for business and users?
Chairman: Mr. Gabriel Deek, Professional Computer Association
Speakers:
· Mr. Paul Dravis, The Dravis Group
· Mr. Jamel Eddine Sghaier, Opensoft
· Mr. Ahmed Shanab, IBM
· Mr. Isam Bayazidi, Arabeyes
· Dr. Dany Mezher, USJ
19:30 - 20:00 Discussion
Day Four: Friday 24 September
16:00 - 17:30 Session VI: Countries Initiatives and Market Opportunities
Building and implementing initiatives aims at enhancing ICT capabilities to bridge the digital divide and develop the economy. A clear roadmap is necessary! This panel discussion will give an outlook on the initiatives in many Arab countries including National e-Strategies aim to best position countries to compete in a global economy, to join the information society and to guide public and private sectors into the 21st century. This planning workshop shall bring together the various stakeholders for a participatory joint discussion of the current status of National e-Strategies Projects as well as of priority implementation programs, in preparation for subsequent workshops leading to the development of the National e-Strategies Implementation Plans
Chairman: Dr. Walid Moneimne, Senior Vice President, EMEA, NOKIA
Speakers:
· Mr. Akram Othman, President Iraq Computer Society
· Mr. Bilal Abou Zaid, CEO Intaj, Jordan
· Mr. Younis Ghrar, President Algeria Internet Society
· Mr. Jalal Fawaz, President Professional Computer Association Of Lebanon
· Dr. Muwaffac Daaboul, Chairman of Syrian Computer Association (SCS)
· Ms. Soumaya Aboulfotouh, CEO, EITESAL, ICT Association of Egypt
· Dr. Raymond Khoury, Omsar
· Mr. Ziad Haddara, UNDP
17:30 - 18:00 Discussion