AIM-IT @ TechLeb2006
21 May 2006 in Programs, News, AIM-IT by Wayan Vota
This weekend, IESC’s Geekcorps Division and AIM-IT program staff attended TechLeb 06, the 1st international conference on technology in Lebanon, to strategize on how to make Lebanon a vibrant and sustainable technology hub in the Middle East, North Africa region (MENA).
With notable technology experts like Kenneth Morse, Managing Director, MIT Entrepreneurship Center and Nehme Taouk, CEO, Soft Solutions, Wayan Vota, Geekcorps Director, Mohammed Bensouda, AIM-IT Country Director, and Mahmoud Elzein, AIM-IT Deputy Country Director, had conference calls with Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon, Marwan Hamade, Minister of Telecommunications, and Jihad Azour, Minister of Finance.
Broadband Internet access was a key issue in the conference. Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications is delayed in deploying promised ADSL, and this is seen as restraining Lebanon’s ICT industry.
IESC Geekcorps recognized this problem in 2005 and AIM-IT is currently working with local entrepreneurs to deploy twenty (20) wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) in rural areas over the next 18 months.
Papou Coulibaly is young boutique owner in Ouélessébougou. Previously, Geekcorps partnered with Papou to create a Cybertigi - an Internet access point for the local community via a wireless link to a Community Information & Learning Center (CLIC).