Bahrain EDB lends its support to Future IT

Notes and media contacts

More information is available at http://www.futureit.cc/supporting_org.php.

About EDB
The EDB, an autonomous semi-private agency, was established by Amiri Decree in April 2000, and is chaired by His Highness the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. The Board consists of seven ministers and seven senior executives from the private sector. The composition of the Board was designed to ensure the active participation of the private sector in Bahrain's economic development.

The EDB is responsible for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain. The EDB aims to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Bahrain and has identified six main economic clusters which capitalize on Bahrain's competitive advantages and present significant investment opportunities going forward. More information at www.bahrainedb.com

About FutureIT
IT leaders from around the world will gather in Bahrain from 14-18 May 2005 at the third annual global Information Communications Technology Conference, Workshops and exhibition. Being held under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain, FutureIT Conference & Exhibition is the region's leading event dedicated to the specialized needs of the Information Communications Technology marketplace. The event, which is being held for the third consecutive year pursuant to the outstanding success of FutureIT 2004, features three days of IT Conference, five days of IT Exhibition, and two days of three parallel post-conference Workshops. FutureIT Conference and Exhibition is brought to you by Creative Knowledge and its strategic alliance partner, Bahrain Internet Society. FutureIT is supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Bahrain Internet Society, Bahrain IT Society, Bahrain Economic Development Board and major International IT Vendors. A senior-level advisory panel is currently being set up to develop the content of the conference, exhibition and the workshops.

About Ministry of Industry and Commerce
www.commerce.gov.bh
The Bahrain Ministry of Commerce an international leader in e-commerce is a key player in the development, planning, and execution of both Global ICT Summit and FutureIT. With its dual as a government service provider to the private commercial sector and marketing Bahrain as a hub for international events, the ministry is fully supporting the event.

Creative Knowledge for Seminars and Conventions
www.ckgulf.com
Creative Knowledge is a leading Bahrain based organization, providing information on the latest strategies and assessment of Information Technology, business and management knowledge and skills. Creative Knowledge organizes conferences, seminars, workshops, training courses, business consultancy and market research regularly on topical issues for established and start-up companies to help them to identify new market opportunities, enter those markets successfully, and accelerate the adoption of new technologies and management practices. It provides up-to-date global IT and business market insights to different market segments.

Bahrain Internet Society
www.bis.org.bh
Bahrain Internet Society is a non profit organization that aims in supporting the Bahraini Internet community. The society was always a leader in supporting national and international ICT initiatives. The event is the highest priority initiative that the society has taken on board and all its board members are committed in supporting such initiative. As a catalyst the society is doing its best in bringing all the stakeholders to support such an important event.

Internet Professionals Association (IProA)
www.iproa.org
iProA is a non-profit making professional organization founded in Hong Kong It represents over 800 professionals from Internet related industries, including CEOs and senior executives from leading information technology enterprises. Our members have made contributions in areas like innovative design, sales, marketing, infrastructure, e-commerce, consultancy, investment and other Internet related professional services, aiming to further develop the Internet industry in Hong Kong.

World Summit Award (WSA)
www.wsis-award.org
(WSA) is a global initiative for selecting and promoting the best in eContent and creativity. It involves representatives from numerous countries on each continent and sees the bridging of the digital divide and narrowing of the content gap as its overall goal. The WSA places its emphasis on cultural diversity and identity, the creation of varied information content and the digitalization of educational, scientific and cultural heritage.