Jordan Times
Friday, December 1, 2006
2006 ICT Forum opens next week
By Ramsey G. Tesdell
AMMAN — Industry leaders from across the globe will convene next week at the
King Hussein Convention Centre on the Dead Sea shores for the 2006 Jordan ICT
Forum, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah.
The December 6-7 forum, entitled, “Hosting the Future,” will bring together some
of the world’s most renowned ICT visionaries, policy makers and entrepreneurs to
compare progress made and discuss ideas for further improvement. The forum will
also focus on expanding investment opportunities in Jordan and across the Middle
East.
The Kingdom’s ICT sector is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly important
with the expansion of ICT into all sectors of commerce, industry and government.
The major topics for discussion this year include telecommunications
opportunities across the region, outsourcing trends in the Middle East, regional
innovation and entrepreneurship centres, regional media and telecom convergence
and content development for the region.
Panels will also cover ICT for healthcare, banking, security, development and
learning, as well as e-government and e-business in the region and financing of
innovation.
Several keynote speakers, including 3Com President and CEO Edgar Masri and
Microsoft Corporate Vice President Gerri Elliot, will bring a wide range of
experience and opinions. An estimated 53 speakers are scheduled to attend this
year’s forum.
Participants will discuss a range of issues, such as how predominantly young
demographics are encouraging market growth and how companies can provide access
to a wide range of services.
Ahmad Hiyasat, chairman of the board of commissioners and CEO of the
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, will participate in panel discussion
on the state of telecom competition and opportunities in the Arab world, and
regulation and liberalisation of these technologies.
The two-day forum, which is held every two years starting in 2000, is organised
by the Information Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) and the Ministry of
Information and Communications Technology.