Princess Sumaya of Jordan kicks off Arab Technology Forum in Silicon Valley

This is the first event of its kind to be held in the United States, with a dozen Arab nations represented as speakers, discussants, and business developers.

HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan launched the event this morning with an inspiring speech about how technology can be used as a force for good in the world. "We must find ways to harness knowledge and innovation for the benefit of society," she said. "This is not business as usual. Knowledge and scientific inquiry cannot be treated as a commodity. These are essential to mobility, dignity, hope, and service to humanity."

"We are very grateful to HRH Princess Sumaya for her support and willingness to serve as the patron of this event," noted Ray Milhem, Vice President/General Manager at Motorola and Board member of TechWadi, one of the two organizations co-hosting the three-day event.

"This is an excellent opportunity for companies in North America to connect with their counterparts from the Arab world, and this gathering moves us into a new phase in terms of direct outreach to the Middle East and North Africa."

The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), the other co-host, worked with chambers of commerce and governments in the Middle East to bring delegates from the region to the Forum.

"There are enormous ICT opportunities for U.S. companies in the Arab world," stated David Hamod, President & CEO of NUSACC, "and this Forum gives our U.S.-based members a chance to meet face-to-face with professionals from the region who are looking for business partners."

TechWadi, based on the West Coast of the United States, is the leading networking association for Arab-American professionals in the technology sector. NUSACC, based on the East Coast, is the preeminent chamber of commerce dedicated to promoting trade and investment between the United States and the Arab world.

Senior representatives of such leading U.S. companies as Motorola and Yahoo! are scheduled to speak at the conference. Panel discussions will address such topics as "Building Your Startup - Silicon Valley Style" and "Technology R&D in the Arab World."

In her welcoming remarks, HRH Princess Sumaya announced the creation of the El Hassan Science City in Jordan which, she said, will be the first such entity in the region to offer a cluster of research & development facilities on one campus. Institutions like the Science City, she suggested, could play an instrumental role in raising literacy rates in the region, enhancing investments in education as a percentage of GDP, and reversing the decades-old "brain drain" from the Arab world.

"To achieve these successes will require inspiration and perspiration," she offered, "but these may be our most important legacies to coming generations in the region."