Exhibition boasts the best of Palestinian ICT companies and products

Several Exhibitions have expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the show from organization and designs to attendance and were already able to achieve their goals in lead generation and introducing their latest products and services.

With the world focusing on another side of Palestinian life, the liberation of Gaza and Palestinians assuming of control in the liberated lands, another face of the evolving Palestine is celebrated in Al Bireh Municipality Exhibition Hall this Tuesday September 13, 2005. This year's Expotech is slated to show case 36 companies and their various software and hardware solutions in a growing Palestinian ICT sector. The ICT sector has witnessed growth despite years of adversity and economic strain.

'We have seen the resilience of the Palestinian people in adapting their daily life to conditions of constrain using the flexibility and mobility of high-tech and innovative instincts,' said Tareq Mayyah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Palestine IT Association PITA. 'Our education sector created e-learning solutions and many businesses separated by road blocks used technology to manage operations, sales, logistics and information security from a distance,' added Mayyah.

The convergence of all sector players in one effort in a second year in a row is testament to the sector proving to be a main economic and social player in the Palestinian current and future plans. 'We have the talent and human resources to grow the sector even beyond its potential today,' said Sabri Saidam, Minister of ICT in the Palestinian National Authority.

According to recent surveys %14.6 of households who have a PC and a telephone line use the internet. 'We need to increase the connectivity of people and introduce additional incentives and faculties in all aspects of the sector. Today we also aim to bring all segments of society into the sector; this is a sector that helps all ages and gender groups,' continued minister Saidam.

The Exhibition is a collusive effort between the Palestine IT Association and the Palestine Trade Center Paltrade. Although e-commerce is part of future plans of the ICT industry in Palestine, Paltrade has been active in organizing ICT exhibitions locally and leading sector trade shows abroad mainly in Gulf Arab Countries for the last 6 years.

'We are proud to support for a second year in a row an ever expanding ICT exhibition. We cherish the confidence the ICT community has placed in Paltrade to organize its home base events and regional events abroad. We hope that the companies are able with our help to fulfill their business and commercial objectives,' Said Mr. Nafez Hirbawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Paltrade.

The sector is mostly privatized and has a modern infrastructure; internet in Palestine is subscription free. %75.9 of households who use internet have used the Subscription Free Internet. 'People are responsive to added value incentives and are demanding in nature.

We have plans to offer further improvement in connectivity and capacity in Palestine to meet growing demand and high expectations of people', Said Dr. Abdel Malik Al Jaber, CEO of the Paltel Group. 'We live in a digital society and the divide is not invincible, we can defeat it,' continued Dr. Al Jaber. Paltel is the Platinum sponsor of Expotech and is the provider of fixed line and mobile telephone services. The Paltel Group is now expanding to offer media content, IT services, and other related services to a growing market in Palestine.

Organizers will fly a kite above the skyline of the exhibition hall with the logo and message of Expotech. This is to indicate that Palestine technology is above barriers and connects all of Palestine. 'Today Gaza is free and liberated, but not connected to the West Bank, with technology though they are today connected, we fly the kite symbolizing unity, prosperity and triumph,' said Sani Daher, CEO of Paltrade, organizers of the Exhibition.