Senator Abu-Ghazaleh 'Delivers the Promise of the Digital Age' in Syria

 

Abu-Ghazaleh announced that the first state-of-the-art Arab laptop TAGITOP which is produced and designed by TAG-Org will see the light on April 2nd in Jordan and will be available in the market at competitive prices affordable by all society's sectors and serve the governmental and international educational initiatives aiming at providing every student and teacher with a laptop

DAMASCUS-------March 28, 2011--------- HE Senator Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) discussed topics related to “delivering the promise of the digital age” as a means to accelerate progress, provide hope, and enable better opportunities for next generation at the 3rd Annual MENA ICT Week in Damascus.

The event, held under the patronage of Syrian Prime Minister HE Muhammad Naji al-Otari, and organized by the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) and the Arab ICT Organization (IJMA3) March 25-29, 2011, is taking place in conjunction with the Cham Exhibition 2011 for Informatics and Communication at the Omayyad Palace for Conferences in Damascus.

In his keynote speech HE Abu-Ghazaleh focused on the role of ICT as a key growth element of education, knowledge, and innovation in the new millennium.

"More than half of the region’s combined population of around 400 million people is estimated to be younger than 25 years. This fast growing population places limits and creates challenges for the competitive and economic vitality of the region. Unless effective policies are matched with accelerated structural reforms combined with an up-scaling education and training efforts, our countries are unlikely to capture the vital energy of today’s youth and meet their ambitions for more opportunities and inspiration," he said.

"Educational reforms and integration of ICT are critically needed not only to unlock the region’s creative potential but also to accelerate the dawning of sustainable economies for meeting the growing regional challenges in education, environment, energy, water, health, security, and governance," he added.

According to Abu-Ghazaleh the use of ICT and, in particular, access to computers and the Internet, are innovative resources that have become recognized as essential tools for education and lifelong learning.
"TAG-Org envisions a potential for cooperation to bring together governments, industries, businesses, and academics in the pursuit of development projects that cultivate cross-border partnerships and educate next-generation leaders with new values and ideas," he said.

"In this respect and with UNESCO, TAG-Org has been taking a leadership role in moving forward with GAID’s initiative on “Education for All in the Digital Age”. The initiative is a Joint Global Action Program towards better achievement of MDGs through ICT integration and innovations in education system for 2010-2015. It is designed on the basis of the dynamics of cultural, social, and institutional changes; environmental awareness; and sustainability in the social, economic, and cultural context," Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out.

"Furthermore, and with the support of TAG-Org, the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) is being born as a pan-Arab dedicated e-Infrastructure connecting Arab research and education institutions to the rest of the world. ASREN aims to facilitate cross-border implementation projects; provide state-of-the-art network services, tools and applications to boost productivity; and leverage economies of scale in using available research, academic and technical resources," he added.

Abu-Ghazaleh stated, "The fact that students, teaching staff, and researchers use this network will lead to enhanced efficiency and productivity and will boost the concept of creativity and innovation."

Abu-Ghazaleh announced that the first state-of-the-art Arab laptop TAGITOP which is produced and designed by TAG-Org will see the light on April 2nd in Jordan and will be available in the market at competitive prices affordable by all society's sectors and serve the governmental and international educational initiatives aiming at providing every student and teacher with a laptop.

Considered one of the most prominent ICT sector events in the Arab world, SCS hosted this year's event which encompasses all concerned parties working in the field of ICT representing 14 different countries from the Arab world, Europe, United States and Africa.