MTC's Dr Saad voted eBusinessman of the Year

Dr Saad was chosen as the winner of the Arabian Business eBusinessman of the Year award 2003.

The Arabian Business eAchievement Awards Ceremony, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed, is an annual event and runs in parallel with the GITEX exhibition is organized by ITP, the leading regional magazine publisher in the Middle East.

These awards bring recognition for leaders in technology, government and business in the Middle East region.

In commenting on the award Dr Saad Al Barrak, Director General of the MTC Group of Companies said, "I am truly delighted to have been chosen as an "e-Man". I am of the firm belief though that this award is for my whole team. Through the inspiration of my colleagues at MTC and our technology partners, we are bringing the best and the greatest technologies to bear in our vision of a truly connected, communicating arab world. The deregulation of the arab telecoms sector can only encourage, not impede, economic growth, leading to inward investment and belief in what we all want to achieve - dynamic and totally connected lives. To keep apace with the rest of the world's economic development, the arab world has to do away with barriers that restrict our economic development."

"Wireless mobile technology cannot be a luxury for the future. It is a necessity and is quickly becoming totally indispensable for the upward mobility of our economies, our region and many second or third tier countries. We must offer lower prices in telephone rates, lower prices in mobile handsets so that consumers can make total use of all the applications available to them, such as GPRS and MMS, to ensure they are the winners in the business community with total business mobile access. The mobile internet, "the mobile net", will help transform major industries leading to greater productivity and a driven economy.

"By close association with the rest of the world we can affect positive change in our economies. MTC's relationship with Vodafone is already leading my company to greater and better things. In the Middle East, we have the money; we have the abilities and schooling; we have desire; however we simply need to transfer working knowledge from the international market to the youth of the arab world to see positive outcomes translate into positive outputs and a drive on the arab economy."

In Bahrain the introduction of MTC-Vodafone's 3G service later this year, another first for the Middle East, will bring customers a totally new experience and way of doing business and completing transactions. The speed will be awesome and a backbone to driving the Bahraini economy.

Dr Saad Al Barrak joined Mobile Telecommunications Company (Kuwait) in June 2002 as Director General. Shortly after the MTC Board approved Dr Saad's long term 3 by 3 by 3 (total 9 year) vision of moving MTC, Kuwait's leading mobile telecoms company from being a one country operator to a regional player and then onto the international scene. In September 2002, MTC and Vodafone entered into a strategic marketing agreement, the first of its kind in the Middle East. This was followed in April 2003 by a further agreement to work as partners in developing the second GSM service in Bahrain.

Outside of the Vodafone relationship MTC continues grow as a regional operator and is now the owner of Fastlink, Jordan's leading mobile telecommunication company and the managing operator of the new company, Atheer Telecommunications, who earlier this month was awarded the licence to provide a mobile telecoms network in the Southern region of Iraq.

Other Arabian Business eAchievement awards for 2003 included:

eAchievement Leader Award - His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan
Private Sector eInitiative of the Year - Al Rajhi Bank, Riyadh
eEntrepreneur of the Year - Randa Ayoubi, Rubicon, Amman
eEducator of the Year - HH Sheikha Mozah bint Naser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation, Doha