Fourth International Forum on Investing in Technology to host premier line-up of key speakers

Jim Morrison, founder & CEO, i-mate™, the UAE-headquartered global leader in Windows Mobile™ devices and services, is keynote speaker at the forum. Before founding i-mate™, Morrison was heading handset development at British Telecom. He has exceptional IT and Telecommunications management experience operating at the leading edge of product and information system development.

Speaking about the importance of the Forum for regional development, he said: "Business happens faster and more efficiently in a networked society and information and communication technologies are crucial to developing competence and disseminating information in the new global economy."

"Connectivity leads to greater productivity through knowledge and information sharing, but it is important to establish a sound underlying platform to run enabling technology. Initiatives such as ASTF's 'Investing in Technology' forum are vital to setting the stage for long-term technological growth and development."

Supporting speakers include Dr. Adnan Ali Al-Sultan, Vice Chairman & MD, National Technology Enterprises Co., Kuwait, Ahmad Gomaa, CEO, Ideavelopers, Egypt, Dali bin Sardar, Chairman, Malaysian Venture Capital Association (MVCA), Malaysia, Prof. Ian Page, Business Development Director, Seven Spires Investments, U.K., Denis Marnane, Head of Equity & Venture Capital, Investment Services Directorate of Enterprise, Ireland, Paul-Louis Sant ,General Manager, Siparex Ventures and Managing Director, Sigefi Private Equity, France, Safia Hachicha, Corporate Finance Manager, Swicorp, Tunisia and Thomas Friis-Hansen, Intel Capital, U.K.

The Fourth International Forum on 'Investing in Technology' is expected to form a key networking platform for over 100 leading technology investors in the MENA region and will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

The fourth edition of the forum, titled "Developing an Arab Venture Capital Industry," will offer presentations on 20 viable start-up ideas that broach innovative ideas. The forum will also announce the winners of the ASTF "Arab Technology Business Plan Competition". The winning business plan will be eligible for a minimum US$ 50,000 investment to enable implementation. The competition is a first of its kind pan-Arab initiative that seeks to encourage grass-roots technoprenuerial startups as a step towards a knowledge-driven economy.

Dr. Abdalla Abdulaziz Alnajjar, President, ASTF, said, "The Fourth 'Investing in Technology' forum is seeking to promote sustainable economic development by laying the foundations for a robust infrastructure of technoprenuerial startups. We are aiming to bring together investment capital with promising startup ideas in order to promote long-term investments for future regional growth. The forum will host a number of key speakers that will share industry experience and encourage the adoption of global best practice, along with 100 plus leading investors from across the region. We are extremely pleased that globally acclaimed firms such as i-mate™ and Intel are helping us expound our vision for the region by sharing their expertise and knowledge"

"The Arab region is ready for an explosion in entrepreneurial innovation. This is due to the buying power within the region which allows for fast and nimble companies to use this market as a springboard to the rest of the world. This is why technology innovation within this region should have access to good and consistent sources of funding. Grass-roots technoprenuerial efforts will set a sound foundation for future technological advancement in the region," Morrison concluded.