February 2001

Mediterranean Countries Synthesis of Summary Reports (1999 - 2000)

This is the final IS key persons and organisations synthesis report covering the Mediterranean as the ESIS project ended in January 2001. 

Introduction

This report presents a retrospective regarding nominations of Key Persons and changes within Organisations involved in the Information Society since the launch of ESIS II in July 1999. The report is a synthesis of national reports which also cover the whole ESIS period. It also puts an emphasis on events and changes concerning key persons and organisations that have occurred during the last 3 months.

The different headings are :

• Part 1: Ministries and governmental organisations

• Part 2: Universities and Research Institutes

• Part 3: Companies

• Part 4: Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Professional Associations and Organisations

Within each heading, the reader will find synthetic information classified by countries. Further information concerning Key Persons & Organisations are available in the ESIS Knowledge Base and in National Reports.

1. Ministries and governmental organisations

 

Governmental bodies and administrations play a major role in a lot of aspects of the Information Society. They are implicated in national projects. Moreover, they prepare national development programs and they initiate and finance the implementation of key telecommunications and Internet networks. This chapter highlights ministries and public institutions, as well as key persons involved.

 

Algeria

 

In Algeria, notable efforts are made in the field of telecoms and Internet.

Algeria faced the biggest change in Government, with respect to the ministries related to IS development. The main policies launched by these new governments in the field of IS are :

• Development of Information society

• Liberalisation of Post and Telecommunications

One of the major changes in political scene, was the substitution of members of the Government.

• A new Prime Minister has been appointed. M. Ahmed Benbitour has been replaced by M. Ali Benflis.

• Mr. Meghlaoui Mohamed became the new Minister of Post and Telecoms (PTT- http://www.barid.dz). Mr. Ali Younsioui, was appointed secretary of the ministry of P&T. Even if the restructuring operation concerning the posts and telecommunications has started a few months ago with the new law on telecommunications approved in August 2000, the Decree 83-71 of 8 January 1983 is still setting the assignments of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The latter assures the implementation of national policies in matter of telecommunications and looks after their application. 

• Following the new telecommunication Law, a new independent regulatory body will be appointed in order to monitor telecommunication activities. It will be in charge of the control and the provision of agreements and licenses to the forthcoming telecom private operators. The head of this regulatory authority will be appointed by the President.

Moreover, Algeria created an inter-ministerial commission for the agreements of ISPs with Mr Mahieddine Ouhadj in charge.

 

Cyprus

 

There has been a Cabinet reshuffle in September 1999. The former Minister of Communications and Works, Mr Leondios Lerodiakonou has been replaced by Mr Averof Neofytou. 

Ministers playing an important as regard to IS development are :

• The Ministry of Communications and Works which is responsible for both the Cyprus telecommunications Authority  (CY.T.A.) and the State TV and Radio channels of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. 

• The Ministries of Interior, Exterior, Finance and Education

The government of Cyprus formed a Ministerial Committee aiming at the elaboration of an Action Plan for the development of IS. 

 

Egypt

 

In late September 1999, a new ministry was established, the "Ministry of Communication and Information Technology" (CIT), to undertake the responsibility of transferring the Egyptian society to the second millennium towards an information-based society. Telecom Egypt fell under the responsibility of the said ministry. The Ministry of CIT, headed by Dr. Eng. Ahmed Nazif, aims at enhancing the usage of technology and telecommunications systems in all the government organizations. The Ministry has set-up four working groups to work on the relevant legislation, telecommunications infrastructure, the development and promotion of new telecommunications services, and the human resource development. The Ministry of CIT has an "Information Society Development Office" (ISDO), headed by Ph. D. Sherif Hashem.

 

The other important organisations involved in the promotion and implementation of the information society are :

•  the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), headed by Mr. Abdel Rahman El-Shaer, established by a decree of April 1998.

• the Egyptian Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), headed by Mr. Raafat Radway www.idsc.gov.eg. It represents the Cabinet of Ministers. It has been established to develop information technology applications and tools and apply them in various industry sectors. IDSC has undertaken major steps towards the realisation of the information society in Egypt.

• the Regional Information Technology and Software Engineering Center (RITSEC) headed by Mr. Hisham Eisherif

• the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), headed by Mr. Ihab Elwi.

• the State Information Service (SIS) http://www.sis.gov.eg/ 

Israel

The regulator in the area of telecommunications is the Ministry of Communications (http://www.moc.gov.il). The Ministry encompasses a wide and diversified range of activities. Its responsibilities include: formulating telecommunications policies, developing telecommunications infrastructures, supervising Bezeq and other telecommunications service providers, supervising the Postal Authority, setting & auditing Bezeq and Postal Tariffs, managing spectrum allocations, regulating and supervising cable television services and tariffs, approving usage of telecommunications equipment.

The other ministries involved in IS issues are: 

• The Office of the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Trade and Industry which is one of the main foci stimulating technological innovation in Israel and support to R&D. The Office will become in the coming months an independent support unit of the Ministry.
• The Ministry of Science hosts several committees for basic scientific infrastructures, in particular the National Committee for IT Infrastructures
• The IT Policy Group established at the Ministry of finance and the TEHILA project (Internet at the service of the Israeli Government) has had a great impact in the creation of the adequate awareness at the government level.
• HILA - Preparation of Israel for Information Age is the team established in the P.M. Office for the promotion of IS in Israel. In May 2000, the unit was transferred (May 2000) from the Prime Ministry Office to the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports.
• The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports involved since 1993 in an ambitious programs for computerization of the school system
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pioneered the use of Internet for information distribution purposes serving as a paradigmatic example for USIS (see: http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il )
• The director general of the Ministry of Trade and Industry established a joint committee on e-commerce with the Israel Industry Association

The Parliament (Knesset) is also very active. It has established a Parliamentary Sub-Committee "Preparation of Israel towards the Information Age" (Eitan Committee). Its activities guide several governmental initiatives. The chairman of that committee is now establishing the Internet Lobby in the newly elected parliament. At the beginning of the year 2000, the Parliamentary Internet and IT Committee established professional workgroups to prepare policy documents for an Information Society policy. The main topics of the working groups are as follows : Internet, Personal identification, Hi-tech industries, Teacher training, Applications in education, Life-long learning, The Digital Divide, Electronic commerce, Data protection, Freedom of Information, Online democracy and the Arab sector in the internet.

 

Jordan

 

Most of the changes to key persons that took place in Jordan during the lifetime of the ESIS II project were to ministries, with three cabinet reshuffles, and in 2000 the resignation of both Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and the appointment of a new Prime Minister on June 19^th 2000, Ali Abul Ragheb.

 

New ministers have been appointed. The key ministries dealing with IS development are :

• the Ministry of Telecommunications and Post headed by Fawwaz Zu’bi

• the Ministry of Trade and Industry headed by Wasif Azar

• the Ministry of Education headed by Khalid Touqan

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC, www.trc.gov.jo ) regulates telecommunications in Jordan through the application of a declared policy by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications

 

Recently, Mr. Ma’moun Balqar, the former Director General of Jordan Telecom, replaced Yusuf Mansur at the head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Communications.

 

Another new important organisation is the "Economic Consultative Council" (ECC), a 20 member task force, created in 1999 by the King Abdullah in order to issue recommendations to the government and oversee the implementation of the modernization plan. In September 2000 it launched an e-government strategy.

 

The National Information Center (NIC, www.amra.nic.gov.jo) is the main national node for Internet services in Jordan. It is also the top level domain administrator for the .jo.

 

Lebanon

 

In Lebanon, the key Ministries involved in IS development are :

• The Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MPT) < www.mpt.gov.lb >, headed by Mr. Issam Naaman, which has issued recently the law on the privatisation of telecommunications. Despite the publication of this law, MPT still maintains its monopolistic position. It has therefore the upper hand over every single project relating to the infrastructure, its maintenance and extension, its modernization and upgrading and regulatory matters. The functional body and the regulatory body are not separated though a somehow independent public unit (OGERO) was directly in charge of the field operations.

• The Ministry of State for Administrative Reform < www.omsar.gov.lb >,

• The Ministry of Transport < www.public-transport.gov.lb >, headed by Mr. Nagib Mikati, who appeared as a key figure in promoting the Information Society. He is pushing for the use of new productivity tools and advocates the re-engineering of public bodies to allow the introduction of new technologies.

• The Ministry of Industry < www.industry.gov.lb >,

• The Ministry of Economy and trade < www.economy.gov.lb >.

In line with the IS development willingness, in August 2000, a new public entity in charge of IS related fields has been created by the Council of Ministers : "The National ICT Committee". Under the chairmanship of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Dr Saidi, the Committee is composed of officials from different public bodies. According to the text creating the National ICT Committee, many other technical committees could be formed (with the contribution of the private sector) in order to help the National Committee in his mission. No such committee has been designated yet.

 

Malta

The present government is actively preparing the legislative framework of the country to bring it in line with the requirements for accession in the European Union.

Among the main ministries dealing with IS development, we can mention: 

• The Ministry for Transport and Communication which is responsible for the telecommunications sector in Malta. In Malta, the idea of privatisation of telecommunications has become feasible in the first quarter of 2000 and this has been shown through new laws. A new Telecommunications Authority has been established in July 2000 that will perform the function of a telecommunications regulator. Mr. Joseph Tabone was appointed Chairman of the Malta Communications Authority.
• The Ministry for Justice and Local Government which is responsible for IS initiatives in the Public sector, such as e-government and other IS projects. In October 2000, the Minister announced that the Cabinet of Ministers is considering the setting up of an "Information Society and Economy Commission", which would be empowered to act as the catalyst to transform the island into an information society and economy (the previous National Commission for Information Technology (NCIT) has been dissolved).
• The Ministry for Economic Services is responsible for the incumbent telecommunications company, Maltacom, which still retains a monopoly and is 60% owned by the Government.

The Prime Minister office (http://www.magnet.mt) plays an important role as it is responsible for :

• Government Information Technology Services, 
• the Malta Information Technology Training Services (MITTS). This important institution has been set up as a Maltese Government IT agency. Its role is to promote the use of information systems in support of the business of Government. During mid-2000, Mr. David Spiteri Gingell, has been appointed by government as CEO.
• the Broadcasting Authority. 
• Moreover, the Central Information Manegement Unit (CIMU) and the Management Efficiency Unit (MEU), both a think thank a driving force in the implementation of IS strategies in the public sector, fall under the office of the Prime Minister. 

Morocco

The government was re-organised in the Fall of 2000, with a significant reduction in the number of ministerial portfolios. Three ministries participate in the promotion and regulation of the initiatives of information technology: 

• the Ministry of Communication and Cultural Affairs
• the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. On October 2nd, 1998, the Ministry established a working committee in charge of monitoring information technologies (CSTI). This committee is assigned with developing a national strategy in this area. 
• the Ministry of Economy and Finances. 

A specialized Secretary of State, the Office of Post and Information Technologies (SEPTI) (" Secrétariat d’Etat auprès du Premier ministre chargé de la Poste et des technologies de l’Information") has specific responsibility for the promotion and the development of information and communications technologies. Mr. Nacer HAJJI replaced Mr. Larbi AJJOUL on September 6, 2000, as the head of Secretary of State.

The National Telecommunications Regulation Authority ("Agence nationale de réglementation des télécommunications" - ANRT) is in charge of preparing statutory acts related to the telecommunications sector. Mr. Mustapha TERRAB is the current Director of the agency, replacing Mr. Mohamed BENKAMOUN who left the agency for the ORBCOMM SPACE company.

Among new committees active in the IS field :

• In February 2000, an interministerial commission, the "Commission interministerielle chargée du développement et de la promotion du commerce électronique", was charged of the development and the promotion of electronic commerce. The commission will publish a precise calendar for this framework no later than June 2001.

• In July 2000, a new committee was created and charged with promoting IT in the Small & Medium Enterprises. Mr. Aziz RABBAH is the IT Manager of the committee.

Palestinian territories

 

Due to the unique situation of the Palestinian Territories and the national effort in trying to build the countries telecommunications and IT infrastructure, there have been minor changes and developments in key people and organizations in Palestine, since the start of the ESIS II project. 

 

The Telecommunication Law in effect, decreed and signed by President Arafat on the 18^th of January 1996, vests ownership of the sector in the PNA and provided the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication the right to establish, operate and manage telecommunication networks in Palestine and connect these networks internationally. As a result, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, headed by the Minister Mr. Imad Al Falouji, regulates the telecommunications sector in Palestine. The Ministry decides on spectrum usage among services and operators subject to frequency ranges conveyed by the Israeli Ministry of Communication.

 

Besides the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the other key actors in the public sphere related to IS are:

• the Office of the President through the office of his Economic Adviser

• the Ministry of Planning and International Co-operation, in particular its special division called the Government Computer Centre (GCC) 

• The Information and Communication Technologies Advisory Board (ICTAB)" created in May 1999 by PECDAR, in response to a direct request from the President and the Legislative Council. ICTAB is made up of a broad representation of stakeholders including individuals from academia, the private sector, prominent economists, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and PALTEL. Its exact role is yet to be defined.

Syria

 

Dr. Bashar Al-Assad who was President of the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) from 1995 to 2000, and who is known for his strong enthusiasm for modernisation and Information Technology, has become the new President of the Syrian Arab Republic. He was elected following a referendum on July 10^th 2000. 

 

A new Government was formed on March 13^th 2000. Mustafa Miro became the Prime Minister. This government is supposed to start a renewal and modernisation of the public administration and improve the economic situation of the country. It is expected that the new government, through the changes that it will induce, shall have a positive impact on the development of the Information Society in Syria.

 

At present, the Ministry of Telecommunications and its Public Establishment of Telecommunications (STE) are key organisations in telecommunication issues. It has the regulatory and policy making authority in this field. As a consequence of the ministerial changes, the former General Director of STE, Mr. Mukram Obeid, became the Minister of Transport.

 

Other ministries involved in IS issues are the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Power and Electricity, Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, and Ministry of Information (Public Agency of Radio and Television). During the last quarter of 2000, a Consultative Committee on e-commerce has been formed by the Prime Minister in order to suggest needed amendments to the laws and regulations in this field.

 

The Syrian Computer Society (SCS) has been working closely with the Government and other bodies in developing an overall Information Society policy (see 4.).

 

Tunisia

 

After the presidential elections held on October 24, 1999, the re-elected President of the Tunisian Republic Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali decided a major government reshuffle in mid-November 1999. It included the naming of a new Prime Minister and several new ministers.

 

The Ministry of Communications (MOC www.ministeres.tn/html/ministeres/communications.html ) regulates the telecommunications sector in Tunisia, Mr. Ahmed Friaa is the new Minister of Communications. He has set up at the end of 1999, a National Commission on Distance Education (Internet and Education).

 

In Tunisia, there has been several actions fostering research and the Internet development. Among the Secretaries of State that have implemented several programs mainly dedicated to the research promotion, we can cite :

• the Secretary of State for Science, Research & Technology (SERST). Mr. Rached Bousemma replaced Mr Chaabouni at the head of the Secretariat of State for Scientific Research and Technology (SERST)

• the Secretary of State for Informatics

Turkey

 

The State plays a major role in every aspect of information society issues in Turkey. The ministries, directorate generals under ministries, various governmental administrations, institutions and enterprises are key players:

• The Ministry of Transportation and its two directorate generals, Directorate General of Communications and Directorate General of Wireless Communications, are key organisations in telecommunication issues. Until very recently, the Ministry was the sole policy maker in telecommunications: the new telecom law enacted in the year 2000 established and independent regulatory body on communications: the Telecommunication Council. It is chaired by Fatih Mehmet Yurdal, previously general manager of Turk Telecom.

• Other ministries involved in major information society projects include Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Education.

Among the national councils, we can mention:

• Internet Higher Council is an informal high level consultative body for the Ministry of Transportation. There is a possibility that Internet Higher Council is to be transformed into a formal consultative council.

• Kamunet (Public Networks Organisation) Higher Council is an advisory body for the Prime Minister’s Office.

• Information Technologies Group of the National Parliament (Grand National Assembly) is a group of parliamentarians acting as an informal consultative body in the parliament.

• Electronic Commerce Co-ordination Committee is another informal consultative body formed by the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade.

2. Universities and Research Institutes

 

Universities and research institutes have a very important role in the generation and the implementation of IS projects. . They naturally appear to be a main relay of the governments in the fields dealing with Research and Technology.

 

Algeria

• CERIST (Research Centre on Scientific and technical Information) created under a decree of 1985, is a public research centre. Its aims to develop a national scientific and technical information system. CERIST is also allowed to study and propose regulatory measures for the development of the scientific and technical information (http://www.cerist.dz/). CERIST is the national focal point for the EUMEDIS initiative.

• INI (Institut National d’Informatique - National Institute of Data Processing) is the main national institute of training and research in data processing. It leads some IS projects at research level. University of Engineering Science of Constantine was also involved in several activities connected to the importance of the use of ICTs.

• The "CERT" a Research Centre on Telecommunications, has been created in 1998 by Ministerial decree and placed under the authority of the Posts and Telecommunications Minister.

Cyprus

 

In Cyprus, among people and institution linked to research and education in IS, we can mention:

• The Planning Bureau of Cyprus is responsible for the overall co-ordination of related activities of Cyprus semi-governmental activities. Furthermore, it acts as the primary National Contact Point of Cyprus in the Fifth Framework.

• the Department of Computer Science of the University of Cyprus which works with the government and semi-governmental committees. Dr. Antonis Kakas from the university of Cyprus was appointed as the National Contact Point for the Information Society of Technologies (IST) In the last the last quarter of 1999. Dr. Andreas Pitsillides, also from the University of Cyprus, was appointed as one of the three Focal Points for the EUMEDIS initiative in the country.

• The Institute of Technology is a semi-government body responsible for the promotion and funding of projects related to technology and research.

• The Research Promotion Foundation is a semi-government body responsible for the promotion and development of scientific research in Cyprus. The foundation invites and awards tenders on several research field including IT and IS on an annual basis.

Egypt

 

Two major universities deal with IS : 

• The university of Cairo 

• The American University of Cairo.

Many agreements have been studied and signed with major technology leaders e.g. Microsoft, Lucent, etc. in order to provide Egypt with the technical assistance and the know-how in the fields of telecommunication and especially in training and educating the people. 

 

Israel

 

The Universities are connected to the Internet through the ILAN (Israel Academic Network) maintained by the IUCC (Inter University Computer Center) that provide the basic networking and information services. In addition they have IS relevant projects targeted either to their students (distance education) or to the k12 population. Centers for Science Education in the Universities or other outreach programs host educational programs making extensive use of IT: 

• The Technion (The Israel Technological Institute); 

• the Bar Ilan University; 

• the Tel-Aviv University; 

• the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; 

• the Weizmann Institute 

• and the Ben Gurion University. 

• The Open University works in close collaboration with the Center of Educational Technologies.

At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the EUMEDIS Focal Point for Israel has been established in ISERD, the Israel Directorate for the EU RTD Programs.

 

Jordan

 

The Higher Council for Science and Technology  (www.hcst.gov.jo) aims to build and evolve a national scientific and technological base in support of economic, social and cultural development in Jordan. One of its affiliated institutions is RSS (Royal Scientific Society, www.rss.gov.jo) that has as a primary goal to disseminate the awareness to the field of S&T. 

 

Several universities focus on Information Society issues, these are: 

• the Jordan University (www.ju.edu.jo)

• the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST, www.just.edu.jo)

• Mu'tah University (www.mutah.edu.jo) 

• and Al-Balqa' Applied University (www.bau.edu.jo).

Lebanon

 

The big seven universities in Lebanon have all entered the information age. They all have now modern equipment and are connected to the Internet. Specific curricula have been introduced to complement traditional courses relating to ICT and computer science. Some specific research centers have been set up. 

Several events have taken place in the world of education.

• the Arab Ministers of education held a conference in Beirut to discuss a project for an Open Arab University to start operating in 2001. 

• During the last quarter of 2000, the AUPELF (regrouping French teaching Universities) organised a seminar focused on tele-education. 

• At the American University of Beirut < www.aub.edu.lb > an ‘Entrepreneurship Club’ has been launched to help young entrepreneurs leverage.

• At the University of Saint-Joseph < www.usj.edu.lb > a technology park has been set up with the technical assistance of the technology park of Sofia-Antipolis in France.

Apart from the research centers in the universities, there exists in Lebanon a Lebanese National Center for Scientific Research (LNCSR) < www.cnrs.edu.lb > under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Culture. I

 

Malta

 

The Malta Council for Science and Technology is also very active in promoting the use of technology and raising awareness of its role in our daily lives.

 

As concerns universities, it is the University of Malta that focuses on IS technologies. Its contribution to the information society stems from a range of related courses dealing with different facets of computer and communication technologies as well as their subsequent application.

 

Morocco

 

The first virtual university Euro-Mediterranean on the web , "Méditéranéenne Thetys", has been created this Fall in collaboration with the European Union. The five Moroccan universities that have joined the project are the universities of Cadi Ayad, Chouaib Doukkali, Mohamed 5th and Mohamed 1st. 

 

The Al-Akhawayn University of Ifrane signed a partnership accord with Lotus (IBM) on October 4^th, 2000 aiming at developing new information technologies in Morocco.

 

Palestinian territories

 

There are nine universities in Palestine. Among them, Birzeit University occupies a central position in Palestinian society and has become a key Palestinian IT policy centre (www.birzeit.edu). The Information Technology Unit (IT Unit) at Birzeit University is a department of the computer center. The objective of this unit is to develop human resources that will contribute to the development of IT in Palestine, through professional training designed specifically to suit the needs of the newly emerging Palestinian state. It offers consulting services regarding IS and networks, its web site offers extensive information dealing with news and the Internet Community.

 

The other universities are : 

• Al Quds Open University (QOU) (www.alquds.edu). The Palestinian Academic Network PLANET (www.planet.edu) at Al-Quds University is a leading educational ISP in Palestine. PLANET links universities, colleges, schools, research centers and some non-governmental organizations with the World Wide Web. 
• Al-Azhar University (www.alazhar-gaza.edu), one of the largest universities in Palestine. 
• An-Najah University (www.najah.edu). It has signed in June 1999 an agreement of cooperation with University of Lille for Science and Technology, France.
• Arab American University (www.aauj.edu) 
• Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu) 
• Hebron University (www.planet.edu/ hebronun/) 
• Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) (www.iugaza.edu)
• The Palestine Polytechnic Institute (www.ppi.edu) 

Also, Mr Hussam Najah Husseini of the Government Computer Centre is now EUMEDIS Focal Point Coordinator for the Palestinian Authority. Previously, Mr Ghassan Z. Qadah and Mr Omar Al-Sahili were the EUMEDIS representatives.

Syria

 

In Syria, the following universities and intermediate institutes are active in the information society since they have IT departments and faculties:

• Damascus University

• Aleppo University

• Tishreen University

• Al-Baath University. Prior to the election of the new President, a new Regional Leadership Committee for Al-Ba’ath party was elected. A new member of that committee, Professor Ghaiyas Barakat, has become responsible for Higher Education and Scientific Research.

• Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST)

• Intermediate Computer Institutes: Damascus University and Tishreen University. Two additional Intermediate institute for Computer were established in 2000, the first one in Aleppo and the second in Homs. 

Four faculties specialised in Computer Engineering have been opened in the four Syrian universities, in the beginning of the school year 2000-2001.

The Syrian Higher Education and Research Network (SHERN) is also being installed at the four state universities and should be completed by February 2001. It will also link these universities with the Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) as well as the Ministry of Higher Education (MHE).

The Arab school of science and Technology, in co-operation with UNESCO, will organise during 2001 regional workshops on the theme of Basic Web Technology Skills for Courseware development. 

Tunisia

Among main universities dealing with IS issues, one can mention: 

• The "Ecole National des Sciences de l’informatique "(ENSI) of the Université de Tunis II is specialized college for graduation of IT students. The new ENSI Director is Mr. Ben Youssef who succeeded Mr. Farouk Kammoun.

• The computation center, El Kawarezmi, of University of Tunis

• The two main private universities in Tunisia: the Arab University of Sciences (UAS) and the Universite Libre de Tunis (INTAC).

Several research institutes are under the responsibility of ministers:

• the Institute of Scientific Research in Data Processing and Telecommunications (IRSIT www.irsit.rnrt.tn) performs R&D in telecommunications and natural language translation. The Secretariat of State for Scientific Research and Technology (SERST) with the technical assistance of the IRSIT have installed the National Network of Research and Technology (RNRT) which connects twenty-two research centers.

• The National Center of Informatics, referring to the Prime minister  (CNI) 

• the Superior Institute of Documentation, (ISD)

• The Centre d’ Etudes et de Recherche en Telecommunications (CERT) was created in 1998 having as mission to proceed to technical studies concerning acceptance testing of telecommunications material and equipment.

A National Commission for Distance Education has been established by the Minister of Telecommunications in the first quarter of year 2000.

 

Turkey

 

Leading universities include :

• Bogazici University

• Middle East Technical University

• Istanbul Technical University 

• Bilkent University. 

Most of the recently established private universities have computer engineering departments. 

There are two bodies directly involved in the policy making and implementation in RTD:

•  TUBITAK is the national science and technology council responsible for science and technology policies and support. It also has some major research institutes.

• YOK, Higher Education Council, is responsible for the planning and co-ordination of higher education.

The academic Internet network ULAKNET connects 91 universities and TUBITAK.

3. Companies

Private companies constitute key contacts belong mainly to mainly to data processing & electronic sectors, telecommunications industry, or are alternative telecom operators. Leading international information technologies equipment suppliers are present in numerous Mediterranean countries where they have established subsidiaries.

 

Public companies are often incumbent telecom operators which are obviously key actors in the Information Society as they act as the main promoters and distributors of new technologies. The significant fact is the law authorising privatisation. This law has been passed in Lebanon, Turkey and Malta (see also chapter 1. Ministries and Governmental Organisations " and other ESIS reports).

 

Algeria

 

The new posts and telecommunications law approved in August 2000 will allow the emergence of a multi-operator market structure involving and attracting foreign investment.

 

A telecommunications company Algérie Télécom will created. It will inherit the telecommunication activities of the Ministry of P&T and could even offer services, through a license awarded by the newly established regulation authority. 

 

After a call for tender that was issued in June 2000 by the Ministry of P&T, the French bank BNP-Paribas has won the contract to engineer Algeria's sale of GSM mobile phone license. Another call for tender is to be issued in early 2001 for international telecom operators.

 

In Algeria, the development regarding the Internet is quite rich :

• Four new companies received authorisation from the government to provide Internet access on November 1^st 99 : These companies were Eepad, Djazair Com, ACI Net and Procom International.

• TDA, Algerian Tele diffusion, Gecos, BMG International, Ornet, Imtiage Technology and Icosnet received licences in August 1999 to become Internet Service Providers.

• ANEP-TD Algérie Internet, a new ISP was created. Its general director is Mr. Abdallah Nemer.

• Algerian IS project leader SATIM is active in the field of banking system reformation by launching the "Specialised inter-bank network" project

Cyprus

 

The market for telecommunications is partially liberalized in the sense that while all voice telephony and mobile communication are monopolised by the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CY.T.A.), a state (semi-government) organization, certain services like data transmission, value added services, Internet services provision, and equipment provision are liberalized. Since July 2000, Mr. Efstathios Papadakis holds the post of president of the executive council of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority.

 

Committed to becoming the leader in expanding Internet access in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East region, CYTA fully exploits its telecommunications infrastructure. Via "Global CytaNet" it effects maximum performance for all customers, including regional Internet Service providers. The four other ISPS are CyLink, Logosnet, Spidernet and Avacomnet.

 

In Cyprus, in the year 2000, the private sector, and more specifically the banking industry had a very strong presence in terms of IS projects. Specifically, such projects have been initiated by the 3 main commercial banks on the island, namely the Bank of Cyprus, the Popular Bank and the Hellenic Bank. 

 

Egypt 

In 1998, Telecom Egypt was incorporated as a joint stock company under Egyptian Companies Law 159. Presently the following telecommunications service providers operate in Egypt, functioning under the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority are:

• Telecom Egypt: In October 2000, the Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Ahmed Nazif has announced the postponement of the privatisation process of Telecom Egypt, due to unfavorable local and international stock market conditions. No new date has been set for the privatization of Telecom Egypt, which had been scheduled to sell up to 20% of the company at the end of the November 2000.
• Two licensed GSM consortia: Mobinil (Egyptian Company for Mobile Services) and Misrfone (or Click GSM)
• Two licensed providers of payphone services: Menatel & Nile Phone
• Two VSAT Service providers: Local Alkan Trading Group and NEC
• Low earth orbital satellite systems (Iridium)

Jordan

 

In Jordan, among telecommunication companies, the most important are :

• The national operator Jordan Telecommunications (JTC, www.jtc.com.jo). The General Director for JTC is Mr. Mamoun Balquar. In the first quarter of 2000, France Telecom purchased a 40% stake in Jordan Telecommunications. This deal will give the French company a monopoly in telephone services until the year 2003. 

• Concerning the mobile sector :

  • Jordan Mobile Telecommunication Services (JMTS, www.jmts-fastlink.com), known also as Fastlink launched the first Cellular communications service in Jordan in September 1995, and was the only Cellular service provider in Jordan up until September 2000.

  • MobileCom is the new Jordanian mobile telephone network operator, and is the operator of the mobile communications license granted to Jordan Telecom (formerly known as PetraCell). Mobilecom’s GSM mobile network service was launched on September 15, 2000. On November 26, 2000 Mr. Henry Azzam was appointed new chairman to complete Mobilecom’s board

• Paging services are provided by Jordan Radio Paging (also known as Mirsal, mirsal.com.jo), and by National Group for Communications Jordan Ltd. (also known as Zajel). Abu Dhabi-based Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co. has signed a service provider agreement for Jordan with ZAJEL. Under the agreement ZAJEL would distribute and market Thuraya services and products in Jordan.

• Trans Jordan for Communications Services (also known as ALO, www.alo.com.jo), is the leading public payphone supplier since May 1997. The other public payphone supplier is the Jordan Public Pay Phones Services Co. (JPP, www.jpp.com.jo).

• The Middle East Communications Corporation (MEC, www.mec.com.jo) is a private company that provides and serves Jordan and the Middle East region with integrated communications solutions and aims to introduce the benefits of Information Society to the IT, education, health, and tourism sectors and to private bodies. 

There are six commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Jordan serving about 30000 people (Computer Networking Services (CNS/PRIMUS), Global One, National Equipment and Technical Services (NETS), Firstnet, Joinnet, International Data EXchange (INDEX). NETS which is the Jordan’s first internet service provider has announced in the first quarter of 2000, that it would merge with FirstNet as a precursor to an eventual deal with Bahrain Telecommunications Company Middle East E.C (BMEC).

Israel

In October 1999, Ilan Biran has been appointed as the new director general of Bezeq, the Israeli Telecommunication National Operator. His main challenge will be to prepare the company for the privatisation process. The tender is expected to be completed in April 2001.

 

The year 2001 is expected a boom year for the providers of telecom equipment for the Israeli market. The amount of expected investment is above 2 billion dollars for the next three years. Two or three new telecommunications companies will compete with the historical operator; the cable TV companies will add telephony and data communications services to their networks; the cellular companies will enter the third generation offering broadband cellular Internet; the Ministry of Communication intends to add a fourth cellular operator.

 

Siemens, Erikson, Lucent, Nortel and Alcatel established a large presence in Israel to show their capabilities to server their customers in a large scale. Cisco is already present in Israel for many years through its RTD center and also employ a large selling work force. Also Motorola, present in Israel for five decades is expected to participate in the cellular tenders.

The present leader in the competition is the canadian company Nortel Networks.

There are about 100 licenses provided by the Ministry of Communications for Internet Services Providers. The leading ISPs are Netvision; Bezeq Beinleumi and Internet Zahav.

Malta

 

The current scenario of telecommunications in Malta now is constituted by:

• Maltacom plc - and its subsidiaries - providing fixed line telecommunications services (monopoly). The new chairman is Mr. Maurice Zarb Adami and Mr. Stephen Muscat has been appointed as the new CEO in the second quarter of 2000. He has been given a mandate to lead the company into a liberalised market place for telecommunications. The Government, who owns 60% of the company’s shareholding, has confirmed his intention to further privatise Maltacom in the speech for the 2001 Budget in November 2000.
• Vodafone (Malta) Ltd and Mobisle Communications LTD (under the Go mobile brand), providing mobile telephony GSM900/1800. 
  • Maltacom announced recently it would dispose of its 20% shareholding in Vodafone Malta. This shareholding will be re-allocated within six months. One of the options is a public offering.
  • Mobisle Telecommunications Limited launched its operations towards the beginning of December 2000. It announced it was going to set up a DCS 1800 mobile phone network with Nortel.
• Telepage Ltd providing paging
• Melita Cable providing cable television services and providing pilot data services (monopoly)
• Elsacom, Malta’s second international satellite services operator
• Internet service is provided by 10 local service provider companies, one of which belongs to Maltacom p.l.c. and another to Melita Cable TV. Datastream Limited, another Maltacom’s subsidiary is to launch fast connections to the Internet using the ADSL technology.

Morocco

 

In Morocco, the incumbent operator is Maroc Telecom IAM (ex-Itissalat al Maghrib). It maintains a dominant role in the Information Society. The company now counts 1.4 million fixed telephone subscribers and 1.72 million mobile phone users, one of the leader in the mobile market in the MENA region. 

 

MediTelecom, the mobile consortium led by Telefonica and Portugal Telecom, won the adjudication of the second GSM license in July 1999. In 2000,  Mr Julian BARACHEA has left the position of president of MediTelecom.

 

Palestinian territories

 

The Palestine Telecommunications Company (PALTEL) is the public telecommunications operator in Palestine. Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Hatem Al Halawani resigned as President in the summer of 2000 and currently the Acting President is Mr. Zahi Khouri. Recently, Mr Khouri, declared officially the company's heading towards international partnership through opening a specified share of Paltel for international leading telecommunication companies.

 

There is one mobile operator: Palestine Cellular Company (Jawwal)

 

There are several ISPs in Palestine. Hally (www.hally.net) is one of the newest ISPs in Palestine, has quiet a large spread around the West Bank. Palnet (www.palnet.com) is one of the most dynamic Palestinian ISP that arrived on the scene as a commercial service provider offering e-mail and a Web connection to individuals and organisations. 

 

The Palestinian Company ATS will be the value added distributor for Oracle products in the Palestinian market.

 

Syria

 

Telecommunications has always been a state monopoly and there is no indication that this will change in the near future. The Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE - www.syriatel.net) is wholly owned by the Syrian government and is responsible for providing telephone services, payphones, data communications, all forms of wired and wireless communications and Internet connections. Director General is currently Eng. Mohammad Maarouf. 

 

Earlier this year, two private companies that were licensed by STE to establish and operate the first GSM pilot project in Syria with a capacity of 60,000 lines, have started service: InvestCom and SyriaTel.

 

As for the Internet, STE, which started as the sole Internet Service Provider, has increased its Internet capacity. The Syrian Computer Society (www.scs-syria.com) obtained a special licence to start an ISP for its membership and university professors. Very recently, a call for tender has been launched on 20 November 2000 seeking partners for establishing a consortium of public and private companies to build and operate the Internet backbone network in the country. Deadline for tenders is the 17 January 2001.

 

Tunisia

 

The PTO and sole supplier of basic telecommunications services is the National Telecommunications Office (ONT), also called Tunisie Telecom where the General Director is Mr. Ahmed Mahjoub. Liberalisation of the sector is being discussed to occur from the year 2003 and onwards.

 

Tunisia plans to grant a licence to a private GSM mobile phone service operator, as the first privatisation in the telecommunications sector, by the end of 2000. This is an instruction of president Zine al-Abidine ben Ali as part of Tunisia privatisation program. The new private operator would be the country's second mobile phone operator as Tunisie Telecom already runs a GSM network.

 

As concerning ISPs, there are:

• one public ISP : the Tunisian Agency for Internet (ATI) (www.ati.tn), established in  1996 as a public company with Tunisie Telecom

• two private ISPs providing private sector and personal access: Planet Tunisie (www.planet.tn) and 3S Global Net (www.gnet.tn).

Turkey

• Turk Telekom is the sole owner and operator of the conventional telephony, satellite, and submarine communication infrastructure in Turkey. At the end of 2000, a new law has been enacted to liberalise the telecom market and to privatise Turk Telekom. The new law requires the telecom market be privatised by the end of year 2003. Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk replaced Fatih Mehmet Yurdal as the new general manager of Turk Telekom. 

• The two GSM operators (private companies) are Turkcell and Telsim. A third license was granted to the Isbank-Telecom Italia consortium (Is-Tim) in the year 2000. The forth licence is to be awarded in the year 2001.

• VSAT service providers are TURVSAT and Verinet.

Internet service provision is not subject to formal licensing and there are currently over 80 ISPs in Turkey.

 

All leading international IT vendors have their local companies or representatives in Turkey. Some local Turkish companies have a leading role in the IT market in hardware, software, communications and Internet services. Among these are the leading PC manufacturer Escort, the leading ISP Superonline, and the leading accounting software vendor Logo. Some industrial groups who invested in banking, media and Internet recently became also the leading groups in Turkey. The best example of this is Cukurova Group. Also, several new IT companies were established in Turkey in 2000 as joint ventures between Turkish and Greek IT companies. This is a direct result of the Turkish-Greek IS Forum established by Turkish Informatics Foundation and Hellenic Federation of IT Companies SEPE over a year ago.

 

Several IT companies were quoted in Istanbul Stock Exchange in 2000. Istanbul Stock Exchange established a separate index called the technology index for high tech companies. 

4. Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Professional Associations and Organisations

Chambers of Commerce & Industry and professional associations are important actors whose mission is mainly to inform and support private companies. They can work on key issues (electronic signature…) or they can provide professional training, etc. International and Regional Organisations aim to facilitate the development of IS in a global world and to answer locally to specificities of different regions.

 

Algeria

 

CACI (Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Touggourt El-Wahat (southern region of Algeria) are taking part in many ICT activities towards SMEs concerning economic and industrial affairs. It is getting more active in promoting co-operation actions and different partnerships in the Mediterranean area. The Internet Association of Algeria (ISA) was created with the support of Cerist. The ISA President is Mr. Moussa Benhamadi. 

 

Egypt

 

We can mention :

• Internet Society of Egypt http://www.ise.org.eg/ 

• CIFRA - Computer & Internet Friends Association http://www.cifra.org 

 

Israel

 

In Israel, many associations and professional organisations played an important role in the field of IS : 

• the Israel Manufacturer’s Association (affiliated institutions are MATIMOP The Israeli Industry R&D Center; The Association of Software Houses in Israel; The Electronics Industries Association and more),

• ILA - The Israeli Information Technology Association. 

• MOAH (The Israeli Association for Computers in Education), 

• AMIX and the Israeli Association for Information Systems in Medicine are specialised associations affiliated to ILA . 

• ITA - Israeli Teleworking Association was established in 1998 to promote home and cottage teleworking in Israel.

• The Israel Chamber of Commerce Association which has played an important role in the development of use of credit cards in Israel and in the area of electronic commerce. It established in association with the Israeli Export Institute and the Israeli Forum for Electronic Commerce. Further details about E-commerce are available in Israel country reports.

• the Israel Internet Association

 

Jordan

 

In Jordan, in the first quarter of the year 2000, a new voluntary non-profit organisation was formed as the focal point for all Jordanian IT industry related activities : the "Information Technology Association of Jordan" (INT@J). The new association aims to provide industry research and market information, as well as effecting standardisation, certification and quality control in the IT industry. 

 

The other important Jordanian associations are:

• the Jordan Computer Society (JCS), a non-profit organization whose objective is to promote the computer profession in Jordan. The JCS annual exhibition, the Middle East Technology Show - METS - is one of the Society’s major annual events. Ii is the sole computer event where international manufacturers and suppliers feature their latest products and services. The President of the Jordan Computer Society is Mr. Karim Tawfiq Kawar.

• Dr. Seyffedin Muraz is the Vice-President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). One of the RSS Centers is the "Computer technology, Training and Industrial Studies Center". In mid-August 2000, the Association and the Japan International Cooperation Agency signed a Discussion Record in order to launch the second phase of "Information Technology Upgrading Project". 

• The Federation of Jordanian Chambers of Commerce (FJCC) is a private sector representative. FJCC provides an umbrella for the 15 Chambers of Commerce.

• The Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) representes the Jordanian industrial sector and is a main reference organization for information on industry and the economy (www.aci.org.jo/). The chairman of ACI is Mr. Khaldun Abuhassan.

Lebanon

 

One specific organization, the Professional Computer Association (PCA) plays an important role in ICT. It is a mix of companies from the private sector represented by their decision makers and individuals having responsibilities in the public sector, especially from public bodies where the ICT play an important role. PCA organised a regional IT exhibition TERMIUM with high-ranking figures from both public and private IT sector. 

 

The 1999-2000 period saw also the emergence of web sites associated with active NGOs in the social and political fields : Kulluna Massoul < www.kullunamassoul.org.lb >, a non-political, non-governmental association and www.niyabiyat.org.lb. which launched forums to discuss public issues.

 

Malta

 

EAN Malta, the local article number association is responsible for bar coding and electronic business standards. It has been actively promoting the use of bar coding, e-commerce, EDI and IS-related technologies and practises for several years.

 

The IT Nodes initiative in Malta has gained momentum with four out of five domains participating in some form of related training. Each domain is being led by organisations such as the EAN (Malta), a joint initiative between the Federation of Industries (FOI) and the Association of Retailers and Traders (GRTU), Malta External Trade Corporation (METCO), Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprise (IPSE) and the University of Malta.

 

Morocco

 

A new association has been created in December 2000: the Association of Information Technologies (FITAV). This association claims to represent all sectors of information technology, including the telecommunication and audio-visual companies. Mr. Kamil BENJELLOUN is the new President of this association.

Among other important associations, we can mention:

• The association of computer users (Association des Utilisateurs de Systèmes Informatiques du Maroc - AUSIM) represents end-users of large computer systems. Mr. Nasreddine BELGHAZI replaced Mr. Abdelmajid GUERCACHI on January 2000.
• The Moroccan Internet Society (MISOC) is a non-profit local chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC). 
• Created in May 1989, the association of information technology professionals (Association des Professionnels des Technologies de l'Information (APEBI) ) represents the major VARs in Morocco. 
• Other groups that played an important role early in promoting specific initiatives were the Moroccan Committee for EUMEDIS Follow-up and the Information Technologies Group (GTI).

Palestine

 

In Palestine, the "Palestinian Information Technology Association" (PITA) was founded as a membership-based organisation for locally registered companies in the IT sector in February 1998. The Association represents approximately 45 companies from various sub-sectors including hardware distributors, software development firms, ISPs, IT consulting, IT training, telecommunications and related business. The new President of the association is Mr. Ibrahim Barham. 

 

Another important association is the "Information Technology Special Interest Group" (ITSIG) which aims to develop an atmosphere of coordination and cooperation between the various bodies and individuals involved in the development of IT in Palestine.

 

Syria

 

The major role belongs to the Syrian Computer Society (SCS).  It was established in 1989 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation aimed at promoting and contributing to the diffusion of information technology in Syria. This is implemented without compromising the government’s overall principles for technological development. The SCS carries out much work in association with the Ministry of Education and other governmental institutions. Dr. Ghassan Al-Lahham replaced Dr. Bashar Al-Assad as the new President of the Syrian Computer Society (SCS).

 

Other organisations contributes actively to the IS development :

• The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce (FSCC) promotes the use of ICT and particularly the development of a business database on the Internet.

• FSCC works closely with the Syrian European Business Centre (SEBC), which is a joint agency established with the European Commission to improve business practices in Syria and to promote Syrian-European joint ventures.

• Also both the Damascus Chamber of Commerce and the Damascus Chamber of Industry are active in promoting IS.

Tunisia

 

The Tunisian Society for Informatics and Engineering (ST2I) is a body that elaborates director schemes and develops software, telematics and audiotext applications. It is head by Mr. Mosbah Kanzari.

 

Turkey

 

Leading NGOs and associations involved in information society issues, include :

• Turkish Informatics Association (TBD). In first quarter 2000, Mr. Inci Pekgulec Apaydin became the new Chairman of the board of TBD.

• Turkish Informatics Foundation (TBV). It produced a strategic document for transition into information society.

• Association of Turkish IT companies (TUBISAD). In 2000, Behcet Envarli was reelected as the Chairman of the Board.

• Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), 

• Association of Turkish Electronics Industrialists (TESID). 

• Also important are chambers of commerce and industry and professional associations. 

Several new associations were established in the recent years in the ICT sector. These include:

• Association of ISPs TISSAD. Mr Burak Cedetas, the general manager of Prizmanet, became the president of the Turkish ISP Association TISSAD.

• Association of Software Companies YASAD

• Internet Association INETD-TR (former Open Systems Association TRUUG) which is led by Mustafa Akgul from Bilkent University, who is a leading name in Internet in Turkey. 

• Interpro established a new professional association for companies involved in the Internet.