MTC Group CEO to speak at German Arab Business Forum

The two day forum is scheduled to take place in Berlin on the 7th and 8th of September 2006.

Al Barrak will be sharing his insights on the region's telecoms, information security and technology industries. He will providing an overview of the rapidly evolving issues, opportunities and threats facing the Arab telecoms industry as it sizes up issues including multiple market deregulation and increasing technological convergence.

MTC Group - the leading mobile operator in the Middle East and Africa with the fifth largest geographic footprint in the world - has a presence in 20 countries with over 23 million customers to date. Through innovation and aggressive growth the group has ambitious plans to become a global operator by 2011.

According to Al Barrak, MTC has already achieved many of the long term objectives it set at its inception and has developed its IT and telecom services to meet the needs of all the countries in which it operates.

Al Barrak said:

"The intersection of communications and technology is at the center of every telecom debate and I am sure Berlin will be no different. I'm looking forward to showcasing MTC as an example of an Arab entrepreneurial enterprise that has harnessed technological flux and has played a crucial role in the growth of the region's telecoms sector by understanding the communication needs of individuals, businesses and governments in each market."

"We are excited about our participation in the summit which we believe will be a collection of forward thinking Arab and German economy leaders."

In 2005 MTC acquired Celtel international, a leading mobile operator in Sub Saharan Africa, for USD 3.4 billion - marking one of the year's most significant telecom deals.

Al Barrak concluded: "With this deal MTC has a stronger responsibility in bridging the digital divide between our operations in the Middle East, the Gulf and Africa. MTC has always been at the forefront of new technologies, services and solutions to offer the best to customers in a streamlined effective manner."

MTC continues to strongly applying its 3x3x3 profitable expansion strategy and is currently bidding for licenses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as Iraq, while continuously seeking new opportunities in Africa. Eventually MTC hopes to enter Eastern Europe and Asia - one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

The forum will host more than 500 attendees from Arab and German businesses, government officials and professionals who will be discussing issues pertaining to energy, infrastructure, finance, environment, education and investment.