Under the Sponsorship of His Excellency Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas and the Contribution of the Islamic Bank for Development and Sponsorship of Paltel Group, Palestine Information Technology Association of Companies PITA, and Palestine Trade Center Paltrade Conclude the arrangements for the opening of ExpoTech 2007 Exhibition.
Ramallah – 11-10-2007: The last preparations continue for the opening of Palestine Fourth Exhibition for Information and Communications Technology by Palestine Information Technology Association of Companies PITA and the Palestine Trade Center Paltrade under the slogan of unity, Technology and Development, which will be held in Palestine (Ramallah, Al-Bireh and Gaza).
The slogan of this year came out of the importance of the Palestinian Information Technology Sector and the extent of its development despite of the economic and political situation in the Palestinian Territories. The exhibition organizers this year insisted on making it in Gaza City, in addition to the usual place in the city of Al-Bireh emphasizing on national unity and the importance of the exhibition and incorporation of the two parts of Palestine.
For his part, Mohammad Nafez Al-Herbawi, Chairman of Paltrade's Board of Directors, emphasized the role of the permanent and continuous role in the promotion of the various Palestinian Sectors, which are currently in dire need of support and attention by supporting institutions and investors. He also mentioned the role of the Islamic Development Bank, Al-Aqsa Fund Unit, for its continuous support for local and external exhibitions. He also emphasized the role of Palestinian Telecommunications Group (PalTel Group) for its continued support to the information technology sector and permanent interest in ExpoTech Exhibition. He emphasized the importance of the exhibition, which brings together major Palestinian IT companies in one place, during which the visitor can see the latest developments, programs and digital devices, and especially the information technology sector is linked in one way or another in all sectors and targeting different ages using modern technology.
Regarding preparations, which started about five months ago and still continues, Alaa' Al-Deen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Palestine Information Technology Association of Companies PITA, reported that the importance of the exhibition this year and after four consecutive years it is held at the same time in each of the city of Al-Bireh and Gaza especially in the difficult conditions each of the West Bank and Gaza suffer from and it is an emphasis of the unity among them, especially, and that during the past four years the participation of companies in Gaza carried out through the exhibition, which is being held in the city of Al-Bireh. On the other hand, what distinguishes ExpoTech this year is that its targeting of businessmen in an attempt to hold investments and transactions for the information technology sector, and also through direct meetings with businessmen which organizers of the exhibition organize during the three-day exhibition.
Maher Hamdan, Executive Manager of Palestine Trade Center Paltrade, added that ExpoTech is characterized as the largest exhibition in Palestine and always we try to highlight every new thing and facilitate the required for companies to promote their products and the possibility of holding the largest possible transactions serve businessmen and companies, and the sector participation in general.
Mohammad Al-Alami, The Vice-President of Palestine Information Technology Association of Companies PITA Board of Directors, emphasizes on the high demand by IT companies at the exhibition in Gaza, especially in light of aggravated closure imposed on Gaza crossings since a long time, but this insistence and emphasis on the Palestinian unity, in spite of all the conditions contributed to a large extent in holding the exhibition in Gaza, not to for material or commercial profit, but to unify Palestinian people in the largest exhibition set up in Palestine.
On the other hand, he emphasized that the significant support by the Palestinian Companies and institutions which were ready to offer many of their services for free for the success of the exhibition in the West Bank and Gaza, and this is an evidence on the unity of the Palestinian street even in the most difficult circumstances.
Ehab Al-Ja'bari, Executive Manager of Palestine Information Technology Association of Companies PITA clarified that the Association always keen to support the companies operating in the sector of information technology in various ways to develop their capabilities and skills and access to domestic and external markets. He added that the importance of ExpoTech lies through our permanent care for its success and support in every way across the participation of largest possible number of companies operating in this sector, and to provide all facilities to them for direct access to the local market, especially since the exhibition is one of the effective tools in the development of the marketing technique of these companies.
He also added that the Association aims through ExpoTech to develop the companies' capabilities locally for access to foreign markets through the presentation skills and dealing with the various classes of users and their specialties.
Regarding holding the exhibition in Gaza City together with its place in Ramallah, which distinguishes ExpoTech this year, Hanan Taha, Paltrade Office Manager in Gaza City, said that the exhibition is very important to be held in the city, especially since the sector is witnessing economic and marginalized deterioration of the role of the private sector, although we are trying with all means highlighting the various sectors and develop them, however, for the information technology sector, it is one of the evolving sectors which challenges crossings and the siege imposed on the sector and it is not a hindrance to its development and prosperity, but on the contrary it is a motivation for further success and progress. Taha expects a large turnout at the exhibition in Gaza for being held the first time in the city and there is great interest by companies and users, and it is expected that 15 Palestinian Companies from Gaza Strip will join the exhibition.
Regarding the importance of this sector, which witnessed steady development knows no borders , closure and siege, Ibrahim Najjar, Manager of Trade Promotion in Paltrade, confirmed the role of information and telecommunications technology in promoting the educational, scientific and cultural and even industrial and service fields.
Informatics and communications play a key role in the development of peoples and raise the scientific, economic and knowledge level and improve the quality of life for all our people and to contribute to communicate with peoples. Therefore, the organization of this distinct exhibition and the presence of this gathering of participating companies from all over Palestine is a proof of that.
Al-Najjar added that the exhibition and the information technology sector and the availability of informatics is an opportunity to our people, who have suffered long years of continued deprivation to catch up with the revolution of communications and information technology, which is the basic pillar of the establishment and strengthening of social and economic development.
The sector of communications and information technology in Palestine plays a distinct and unique role due to the continuing occupation and turning the Palestinian areas into islands and isolated cantons by the establishment of military checkpoints and imposing continuous blockade and closures and constructive for the so-called racial segregation wall around the residential areas, which prevented the movement of people and goods freely.
Therefore, the use of electronic means of telecommunications has become the basis of Palestine and an essential means of telecommunications and interaction between our people inside Palestine and abroad.
On the occasion of the near opening of ExpoTech Exhibition, which is being held by the slogan Unity, Technology and Development, Ibrahim Al-Najjar called for the activation of strategies aimed at achieving the requirements of establishing a digital society including the achievement of comprehensive access to information and telecommunications technology, and benefit from the experiences of other countries in this regard.
He stressed the importance of enhancing the dissemination of informatic culture among all Palestinian society classes by creating appropriate ways and methods to suit local conditions and with a focus on rural areas and marginalized groups in cities and villages. Al-Najjar stressed on the necessity of taking measures necessary for the development of laws and legislation related to information and telecommunications technology in line with the service of the Palestinian society educationally and scientifically, culturally and commensurate with the rapid development of information and telecommunications technology.
45 Palestinian companies of ICT sector are participating in ExpoTech for this year from West Bank and the Gaza Strip Governorates and they it is decided to provide the latest advances in the world of software, computer and accessories.
The Palestinian Telecommunications Group is mainly sponsoring the exhibition and also the Islamic Bank for Development – Al- Aqsa Fund Unit and the United Nations Development Program UNDP / Program of Assistance to the Palestinian people for their support to the exhibition; also the Arab Insurance Establishment Company is sponsoring the insurance policy regarding the exhibition.
