President and CEO of Cisco Systems to deliver key note at Jordan ICT Forum

Held under the Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II in September 14-15th at Jordan's Dead Sea, the ICT Forum will see the participation of global, regional and international ICT key leaders. The Forum aims to define regional opportunities for the Middle East's ICT sector.

"It is an honor and a privilege to address such an esteemed audience as the Jordan ICT Forum. The ICT market in this region is a dynamic and growing area, and I believe international enterprises recognize the value of the potential technology opportunities available," said Chambers. "I truly believe the Jordan ICT Forum can play a key role in shaping the region's critical technology infrastructure to create unprecedented growth, education, and productivity opportunities."

Chambers address will take place at the opening session of the Forum on the 14th September. A longtime supporter of ICT development efforts in the region, Chambers has been responsible for key Cisco Systems investments in the region, including a significant contribution to ICT development in Jordan.

The ICT Forum 2004 aims to define the opportunities available in the regional ICT sector, in a bid to pave the way to form consolidated regional market and promote the competitive investment climate in the region. The Jordan ICT Forum was originally launched in 2000 at the Dead Sea to define and launch the Jordanian national ICT initiative, REACH. The third Forum is the first to focus on a regional, rather than purely Jordanian, agenda.

"The participation of a global key player like John Chambers in the Jordan ICT Forum is an honor for us. His expertise and commitment toward the Kingdom and the region has played a key role in enhancing and driving the development in the regional ICT sector," said Marwan Juma, chairman of int@j. "The Forum will enable us to define the roadmap of the regional ICT sector by sharing our expertise, success stories and challenges."

Participants will discuss essential issues and share practice, case studies, expertise and vision across a range of vital topics, including; Defining routes for regional opportunity, Connectivity for regional growth, Regional Synergies for a global offering, ICT investment: Jordan case study, ICT development policies in the Arab World, Value generation in the Arab world/ myth or reality?, investing in the future; vision for education and Building a youth dialogue for innovation.