US embassy cable - 02AMMAN4945

UNCLAS AMMAN 004945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EB/CIP - DAVID GROSS 
DEPT PASS USAID FOR ANE/MEA 
USDOC FOR TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION - KEN FERGUSON 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
PASS OPIC FOR STEVE COWAN, ABED TARBUSH 
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/MWILLIAMSON 
USDOC FOR 3133/USFCS/0IO/ANESA/RD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECPS, BEXP, JO 
SUBJECT: SPREAD THE WORD: JORDAN ICT FORUM 
 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request.  See para. 6. 
 
2.  (U) SUMMARY: Under the patronage of King Abdullah, the 
Ministry of Information Communications and Technology (MOICT) 
and the Information Technology Association of Jordan (INTAJ) 
are hosting an Information Communications Technology (ICT) 
Forum September 30 - October 1 in Amman.  The Forum will 
highlight opportunities for foreign investors in Jordan's 
growing ICT industry, showcase the country's USAID-assisted 
REACH initiative, a national strategy for developing the ICT 
sector, and promulgate assessments of the sector's progress 
to date.  Headlining this year's conference is Craig Barrett, 
President and CEO of Intel Corporation.  Post requests 
Washington agencies' assistance in identifying potential 
participants.  END SUMMARY 
 
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AN IT EXTRAVAGANZA 
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3.  (U) INTAJ and the MOITC announced the agenda for this 
fall's ICT Forum, to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Amman 
September 30 - October 1.  In addition to the keynote address 
by Barrett, Sun Microsystems' John Gage will speak, and there 
is a good possibility that AOL Time Warner's Steve Case and a 
senior-level Microsoft representative will appear as well. 
King Abdullah will hold a private VIP meeting with selected 
dignitaries, and will address the conference opening day. 
Minister of Information Communications and Technology Fawaz 
Zu'bi will open the conference with a welcome address and 
will host a gala dinner September 30 at the Dead Sea. 
Conference organizers also expect to announce some 
significant IT projects involving American companies. 
 
4.  (U) The agenda, available at www.jordanictforum.com, 
includes panel discussions on the development of Jordan's IT 
industry, Jordan as an investment destination, enabling IT 
environment and infrastructure, human resources development, 
and government support.  Roslyn Docktor, Vice President of 
McConnell International, will present an assessment of 
Jordan's "e-readiness".  Conference organizers will also 
provide ample time and venues for networking and private 
discussions. 
 
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SPREAD THE WORD 
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5.  (U) At MOICT's request, we hosted a brainstorming session 
August 27 on how to spread the word about the conference. 
Commoff will prepare an International Market Insight Report 
to help promote awareness of and participation in the event 
by interested U.S. businesses.   USAID's AMIR program is 
providing logistic and administrative support, and is sending 
the invitations and arranging for accommodations. 
 
6.  (U) Action Request: The ICT Forum will provide Jordan 
with an opportunity to demonstrate its potential to be a 
regional leader in IT and perhaps give foreign investment 
here a much-needed boost.  The participation of such IT 
luminaries as Barrett, Gage, and Case should lend the event 
the gravitas it needs to attract investor interest. 
Likewise, a favorable, public assessment of Jordan's IT 
industry showing that the sector is on the right track, 
coupled with some deliverables to be announced at the Forum, 
can only inject some confidence into an economy that is 
working hard to do the right thing in a difficult 
neighborhood and challenging environment. 
 
7.  (U) We would appreciate Washington's advice and 
assistance in spreading the word about this event to the U.S. 
IT industry.  Input in developing a list of IT industry 
associations with which INTAJ could work (both in promoting 
this conference and establishing longer-term relationships) 
would be particularly useful.  In addition, we encourage U.S. 
government participation in the conference, both as potential 
speakers and attendees.  We will be in touch with Commerce's 
Technology Administration and State's International 
Information and Communications Policy group (EB/CIP) to 
follow up. 
 
BERRY