| Minister
Saidi Tells MIT Delegation
"We will create a high-tech
park in Beirut"
_____________________________________________
Dr. Nasser Saidi, the Lebanese
Minister of the Economy, announced his vision of Beirut's
"emerging technology zone" at a dinner in honor of a group
of MIT Sloan students visiting the Middle East. Minister Saidi's
presentation focused on forthcoming governmental actions which will
advance the "knowledge based economy in Lebanon" and their
expected results. The Minister also discussed the government's plans
for expansion of internet and telecommunications capacity, and human
resources.
Minister Saidi described the
current Lebanese economic environment as ready to accept new ideas
and talents. Specifically, Saidi discussed a group of feasibility
studies which are aimed at helping Lebanese companies advance their
scientific research. Minister Saidi said that another component of
BETZ is a Lebanese JV between the private sector and government
which will act as a "free information media zone." The
goal of BETZ is to transform Beirut into a regional communications
and networking hub.
Following the Minister's talk, Mr.
Kenneth P. Morse, the Chairperson of the MIT Sloan delegation,
thanked Dr. Saidi. Mr. Morse explained his vision for the future of
Lebanon as one rich in human resources, capable of succeeding in the
new knowledge-based economy. Morse emphasized the importance of the
media in working with the private sector and the government to
establish a favorable climate for research and scientific
development in Lebanon.
Morse also explained that the
purpose of the MIT Sloan visit is to gain a better understanding of
Lebanese culture and major economic issues. The MIT Sloan
delegation, represented by forty MIT Sloan students, faculty and
administration, will also be visiting Jordan and Egypt.
The dinner, held on March 16 , was
hosted by the MIT Club of Lebanon, all of whose officers were
present, including it's President, Nicolas Chammas. The event was
also attended by Yves Dissau, the Representative of the UN
Development Program, Kamal Hayek, the President of the Investment
and Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Sami Nasri, the
President of the Computer Networking Association, and Raymond
Khoury, from the Ministry of the Administrative Reform. About fifty
other MIT alumni and friends joined the event.
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