The Lebanon ICT Association, the leading information and communications technology industry body in Lebanon, has announced that it is establishing a representative office in Dubai Internet City. The office will help facilitate increased communication and business exploration opportunities for Lebanese companies in the UAE and GCC markets.

Welcoming the announcement, the CEO of Dubai Internet City Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman said: “Growth in the regional information and communications technology (ICT) market can be stimulated through increased interaction between the business communities of countries in the region,” he said. “Lebanon has a dynamic information and communications technology (ICT) industry and Dubai Internet City can help enterprising Lebanese companies explore potentially lucrative opportunities in the fast growing markets in the GCC region,” he added.

The establishment of the Lebanon ICT Association’s office in Dubai Internet City is in line with the latter’s strategy of establishing partnerships with national ICT industry bodies to assist companies in their countries scout for business opportunities in the region. Establishing a presence in Dubai Internet City enables these organisations to serve as a gateway for ICT companies in their countries to do business here.

Dubai Internet City has so far signed strategic MoUs with national ICT industry bodies like Nasscom of India, Malaysian Super Corridor, Germany’s BITKOM, and those in Iran and Turkey. Another agreement with int@j, the Information Technology Association of Jordan is in the pipeline.

Over the past few years, the Lebanese ICT industry has gained a considerable momentum of growth,” said Jalal Fawaz, President, Lebanon ICT Association. “Lebanese ICT companies have acquired a high level of expertise today and are very competitive. Several companies have developed innovative software solutions and are seeking to tap markets elsewhere in the region. Lebanese ICT firms have started to expand regionally by establishing offices in GCC countries. The establishment of our office in Dubai Internet City, the region’s ICT hub, will help facilitate the increased presence of Lebanese companies in the UAE and the Gulf region,” he added.

Lebanese software exports to GCC countries has surged in recent years. In an effort to step up their momentum of growth, Lebanese companies are increasingly looking for customers in the region. Overall, Lebanese software exports are estimated to be in the region of US$50 million. The total ICT industry in the country is estimated to be worth US$150 million.

Dubai Internet City can offer a strategic platform for Lebanese companies to both launch and enhance their business in the region,” said Dr. Sulaiman. “Dubai Internet City has each and every element of the ICT value chain offering abundant channel development opportunities,” he added.

Dubai Internet City is presently home to an internationally diverse community of about 400 companies that account for 8,500 knowledge workers. The key sectors represented in the Dubai Internet City cluster include Software Development, Business Services, Web Based & e-Commerce, Consultancy, Education & Training, Sales & Marketing and Back Office Operations.