MENA ICT Forum 2013 to be launched on 6th of March

Over the course of its 2 days event, the MENA ICT Forum 2013, organized by the Information and Communications Association of Jordan - Int@j in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Jordan, the Arab ICT Organization - ijma3, and supported by the United States Agency for International Development - USAID, will be held for the sixth time in the midst of great transformations and changes in the global and regional ICT sector.

List of speakers will include a number of renowned leaders, decision makers and experts in the Telecommunications, IT, and digital world. Keynote speakers will be from different countries around the world and will address the topic of future vision of ICT in the Arab World 'Arab ICT Spring: Realizing Potential'.

The first day will present 6 sessions tackling topics such as: The state of Arab ICT Transformation, Global ICT Innovation, how is ICT transforming sectors and realizing Arab ICT Potential. Engaging panels will involve the participants to interact with the speakers who will be representing major regional and global companies.

The second day will also introduce interesting sessions under the following titles: Accelerating development in the Arab world: investment, entrepreneurship and incubation, internet freedom and governance supported by several breakout sessions entitled: employment and HR challenges, games and gamification, transforming telecommunications, the value of IP and content in Arabia, outsourcing in MENA, women in technology, cyber security and a session for Amman TT.

Among the speakers there will be specialists in their fields such as Mr. Ahmad Nasif, Vice President and Managing Director at Yahoo Middle East & Africa, Dr. Usama Fayyad the CEO of Oasis 500, Mr. Tareq Saeed: the Senior Client Technical Advisor at IBM, Mr. Majied Qasem the CEO of D1G, and the Founder and CEO of Pokware Mr. Maryse Thomas, Mr. Bashar Hawamdeh the CEO of MENA Itech, Mr. Charbel Fakhoury Microsoft's VP Sales, marketing and services for the MENA region, Ms. Doha Abdelkhaleq the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Eskaednia, and Mr. Tareq Hammad the Executive Director at TAGipedia.

From Jordan and the region, speakers will talk about their own experience mirroring a diverse list of companies and entities such as KAUST represented by the Manager of Entrepreneurship Center Mr. Ahmed Abdulwahab, the president of PSUT: Dr. Issa Batarseh, Executive Director of IPARK: Dr. Wissam Rabadi, Mr. Khaleel Al Najjar the Director of intellectual property commercialization office at El Hassan Business Park, Mr. Omar Koudsi the CEO of Jeeran.com, and the CEO of Akhtaboot: Mr. Yousef Shamoun. The Jordanian telecommunications companies will also be attending represented by their CEOs: Mr. Ihab Hinnawi/ Umniah, Mr. Ahmad Hanandeh/Zain, and Mr. Jean Francois Thomas on behalf of Orange.

Global companies will also be present and speakers will be specially attending the event to bring in their international experience under the umbrella of the MENA ICT Forum 2013. Speakers will include: Mr. Ashraf Arafah from CISCO, Mr. Gareth Deere from IPSOS, Mr. Jean Claude Michaca from Oracle, Mr. Jeffrey Avina from Microsoft, Mr. Magdi Amin from the International Finance Cooperation, Mr. Iyad Kamal from Aramex, and Mr. Jawad Abbasi representing Arab Advisors Group.

Speakers will also highlight companies such as: Rouse & Co, Amourah.com, Ministry of Communications and IT in KSA, Social media club MENA, All World Network, elearment, Altcity.me, business incubator magazine, AGIP, UN Escwa, TRA Lebanon, PayPal ME & NA, Me.Social.ME, GamesXP, AEP Direct & Brand Aura, Arabian Business Consultants for Development, Practice Fusion, Quirkat, IT Decisions, Teleperformance Group, Wikitude, Rumman Company, Memeburn, Naseeb Networks, ITG, 2cw, Jordan Gaming Taskforce, Arabnet, Innovative Business Solutions, Social4ce, Electronic Health Solutions, National Technology Group, mils electronicgesmbh & cokg, souq.com, EBRD, Shoto Inc, Center for technology in Government, the internet society, Qulacomm, Bonfaire, Smart Cube and Democracy.com.