Dubai Internet City hosts workshop and networking programme for diplomats from UAE-based consulates and embassies

Primarily organized to enhance relations with the diplomatic community in the UAE and increase the understanding of the consulates on DIC's service offerings, the agenda for the event included an interactive session and presentations by the cluster's management team.

Majed Al Suwaidi, Director of Commercial Operations, DIC, welcomed the officials representing 20 countries, while Faisal Hammoud, Commercial Operations Manager, offered a presentation on DIC's value-added services and operational procedures for prospective business partners. Following the presentation, Fareed Abdulrahman, CEO of SmartCity delivered an introduction to the SmartCity Malta and Kochi projects, set to become a leading ICT and media destination in the Mediterranean and first European outpost of the global SmartCity network.

Al Suwaidi said:

"The DIC Commercial Operations team was developed to complement the dynamic business environment at the cluster. Representatives in the UAE's diplomatic community play a key role in attracting business partners to the managed ICT cluster and it is important that we remain transparent in all our procedural measures. We will continue to support businesses that are keen to base their operations in the emirate for gaining better regional foothold."

Following the presentation, Al Suwaidi joined Abdulrahman, in an interactive Q&A session giving the consulate and embassy representatives an opportunity to respond to questions relating to further collaboration with the ICT cluster.

Manuel Valle, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Spanish Embassy, said: "We are delighted that DIC has organized a networking event that will enable the commercial division of Dubai's Spanish Embassy to meet and create closer ties with DIC officials. As the formal representative of economic and commercial affairs of Spain in Dubai, it is important that we establish solid understanding of business opportunities and operations in leading commercial hubs like Dubai Internet City so that we offer sound and informed recommendations to prospective Spanish business investors."

As the region's leading managed ICT cluster, Dubai Internet City has to date welcomed more business partners than in the first and second quarter of 2008. A pioneering destination, the cluster continues to propel the region's sustained growth in the ICT sector.