ESIS Extension / Lebanon / IS Promotional Activities / Update Memo 5

The quarter under review has been marked by a strong push towards the Information Society originating in the attitude of the local press and some local IT companies.

1. Two local newspapers are issuing on a weekly basis special reports relating the various aspects of the Internet.

The Arabic speaking newspaper Annahar < www.annnahar.com.lb > is publishing a weekly 4 pages containing interviews with leading figures from the political and business community. Among the political figures, three ministers presented their experiences about the usage of new technologies in general and Internet in particular in their personal environment and within their office activities. Many Members of Parliament related similar experiences and everybody praised the benefits to the community from the spreading of the NTIC.

The French speaking newspaper L’Orient - Le Jour < www.lorientlejour.com.lb > is publishing a weekly page more directed to the young user of Internet. Some technical presentations are regularly made to give hints on new features and skills to master the evolving applications.

This kind of publication along with specialized magazines as "PC Computing" and "IT Magazine" are contributing a lot to the awareness and dissemination of the Information Society.

2. Many newspapers are publishing electronic versions on the web with free access:

A special service implemented by Annahar newspaper is a five-minute audio option allowing the visitor to listen the main headings of the daily issue.

A recently launched portal < www.yalla.com.lb > is giving an entry point to these newspapers as well as adding reports and news from the AFP news agency with an update every 10 minutes. It is also giving an entry point to local broadcasting radio stations and local TV broadcasting networks. The daily journal aired by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) is video-transmitted through the Yalla site. The LBC station has the largest audience in Lebanon.

3. The advertising and promotion agencies as well as IT companies are continuing their efforts to extend their activities:

‘International Fair Promotion’ has organized an exhibition early in April with the contribution of Compex 2000 and Telecom Middle East. Among the 120 companies gathering in that event, 85% were Lebanese. For the first time, an Indian firm in the telecommunications consultancy was present and showed interest in entering the market as general contractor to create rural telecommunications projects. During this gathering, the ISPs as well as the mobile phone companies were making a huge effort to extend their client base through pricing incentives and giveaways. The Lebanese-Canadian company Liban Post < www.libanpost.com.lb > handling the privatized postal service was present to demonstrate the new postal code system for Beirut. It was also presenting a new service to be launched soon: the Volume Electronic Mail. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications was among the sponsors of this event.

The IT company ‘Computer Information Systems SAL’ < www.cis.com.lb > organized a special event on the 20th of June to launch new generation e-services. The presentation was about a new breed of devices valued for their "just works" factor. The CIS team leading this conference stressed special features relating to digital imaging, data storage and new generation of PCs and servers. It also conducted live demonstrations during the afternoon hours.

On two occasions the Governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Mr Riad SALAMEH exposed his views on e-banking. One before a select audience from the business and financial community at the Beirut Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the other at an academic gathering at the American University of Beirut. In both presentations the governor stressed the need to have new skills developed to allow the banking and financial sector to grow in this area. He praised also the attitude of the community for its constant quest for the best available technology to preserve the reliability and security of the financial transactions. He was alluding to the adoption by a consortium of seven banks of the ‘Visa Chip Card’.

Credit Libanais launched an internet banking service this week called World Wide Branch, the first Lebanese bank to do so. Clients accessing the service will be able to inquire about account balances, transfer funds, request statements and cheque books, transact between accounts at the bank and even cancel cheques. To utilise the service properly, however, clients require a suitably powerful computer. The bank expects the service to appeal particularly to Lebanese expatriates, and computer-savvy individual and business clients. These clients, though, will still be required to have an account at an actual branch for the foreseeable future.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.