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PITA E-NEWS January-February |
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In this Issue:
Palestinian
Participation in Comdex Jeddah 2003. |
Under the patronage of Mr. Maher Masri, minister of trade, industry and economy, and the private sector coordination committee, PITA held several meetings with the Ministry of Post and Telecom, Ministry of Finance, and Members of the Palestinian legislative council, to discuss the framework for the telecom sector. The meetings aimed at reaching an agreement between all related parties that safeguards the organization and development of the Palestinian telecom sector. PITA’s Telecom Committee led several other meetings with related ministries and stakeholders to further discuss this issue, more updates will come in the next edition of PITA E-News. |
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PITA
staff and members congratulate Dr. Yahya
Al-Salqan, PITA Board member, and CEO of Jaffa.Net for
his engagement to Ms. Diana Wahbeh, who lectures at
Birzeit University in the English Department.
They also congratulate Mr. Ayman Masri, PITA member,
and G.M of Bailasan For Computers & Internet,
for his engagement to Ms. Rula Sab’e, who works at the
Arab Bank.
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PITA launches a new Technical consultancy program… PITA has invited the IT companies to register in a newly launched program for technical consultancy services; this program falls under the firm level assistance programs for the year 2003. The main goal of this Technical Consultancy program is to elevate IT companies’ technical expertise, and improve their software development, programming, and management processes, through a direct in-house consultation provided by an experienced software developer and team leader.The program is also designed to respond to specific software development issues at IT companies. Those can be defined as a result of the assessment reports or based on PITA’s consultancy analysis to the company needs. Seven member companies are currently benefiting from this program. For more information: http://www.pita-palestine.org/services.htm |
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The Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) (http://www.pita-palestine.org) January 14, 2003 hosted a surprise visit from the globally renowned advocate for free software and founder of the free software movement, Richard Stallman. With the help of an Israeli-American professor, Dr. Michael Dahan, Dr. Stallman ventured through an Israeli military checkpoint to meet and engage Palestinian software developers. While the world watches Palestinian society being destroyed by the Israeli military occupation, a packed room of Palestinian computer professionals from Ramallah (interested Palestinians from other cities were unable to attend due to the Israeli closures and travel restrictions) turned out at a short 12-hour notice to listen and discuss the issue of free software and the global movement to cooperate in developing software. Not knowing the level of interest in Palestine for free software, Dr. Stallman insisted to test the waters by making his first visit ever to the Occupied Palestinian areas. The first Palestinian software professional to greet Mr. Stallman upon his arrival at PITA headquarters was Mr. Jack Rabah who surprised Mr. Stallman by presenting him a textbook for his signature. The textbook, which Mr. Rabah had used while in school, was authored many years ago by Dr. Stallman. In his address to the audience, Dr. Stallman stated that he came to Ramallah to promote “freedom of software, [in a place] where freedom is curtailed.” While the Palestinian community has become consumed during the last two years with the arbitrary Israeli imprisonment of over 5,000 Palestinians – several PITA members have spent six months in Israeli prison without charge, trial or conviction – Dr. Stallman moved their attention for an hour to the “imprisonment” of users worldwide by proprietary software. PITA’s Executive Director, Dr. Mashhour Abudaka, commented following the event that, “this significant turn out of software professionals, while we experience the most difficult days in our development, as a country and a sector, is living proof that Palestinian IT professionals refuse to allow the Israeli occupation to deny them the right to remain in tune with global IT developments.” Richard Stallman, a 1974 Harvard graduate in physics, is the founder of the Gnu Project, launched in 1984 to develop the free operating system GNU (an acronym for ``GNU's Not Unix''), and thereby, as Dr. Stallman stated, “give computer users the freedom that most of them have lost. GNU is free software: everyone is free to copy it and redistribute it, as well as to make changes either large or small.” Today, Linux-based variants of the GNU system, based on the kernel Linux developed by Linus Torvalds, are in widespread use. There are estimated to be some 20 million users of GNU/Linux systems today.
The
Palestine IT Association of Companies is a trade
association of 65 Palestinian IT firms and is one of the
most active and vocal players in the Palestinian economy
advocating proper legislation to promote the IT industry
and promoting widespread use of modern technology to
build the State of Palestine and to compete
internationally. |
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MEMBERS NEWS Microtech for Investment Co. 1. Agent of INKMAN ink jet cartridges for Palestine. 2. Importing TEAK cdr, dvd stand alone system duplicators for sczi, ide.
3.
Castle Establishment Company,
their main product -
Asseal Accounting software – was published on PC
magazine this month.
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PITA sees the exhibition as the right vehicle at the right time to launch its market entry strategy into KSA and to show other international visitors the breadth and depth of the Palestinian Products. As part of its objective and plan for this year, PITA decided to participate in Comdex exhibition to accomplish the following: Establish cooperation between Palestinian companies and international companies participating in Comdex. Create Institutional links with the Comdex organizers for future links. Network with Saudi sister IT Associations to establish future strategic relationships with them. Building an international IT image of the Palestinian IT sector to enhance its capability to access new markets. The
event will be jointly organized and represented by PITA
& Paltrade through a cooperation agreement aimed to
facilitate the Palestinian participation
via a
60 SQM Palestinian Pavilion. |
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Oracle Data Warehousing Solution is developed and employed by local Palestinian Companies Palestine’s Cellular Communications Company buys Software Solution from locally based Jaffa.Net |
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The Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) (www.pita-palestine.org), February 5, 2003 hosted a press conference to announce launching JAWWAL & Jaffa.Net Data Warehouse Project. JAWWAL, the first Palestinian Cellular Communications Company and Jaffa.net, a leading local IT company have signed an agreement, considered a first in Palestine for the purchase of highly advanced locally developed Data management software solution. The program developed offers a centralized database, which will integrate all of JAWWAL’s databases in spite of their different formats. A central database helps managers’ access information easier and faster and improves the company’s productivity, thus allowing JAWWAL to offer customers better services in a more effective way.
“Implementing this program integrates databases
available in more than 18 programs within the company
and makes the search for information easier and
speedier. |
Effectiveness as a result will help increase productivity,” said Basem Al-Wazir, Chief Information Technology officer at Jawwal. Al-Wazir added that “JAWWAL” always encourages such cooperation and coordination with other Palestinian companies that offer high-quality products meeting international standards within a competitive price range. Such cooperation is deemed beneficial for both the national economy and makes after sales service and repairs much more sensible. The new software solution has made Jaffa.net one of the most important and advanced Palestinian information technology companies,” said Dr. Yahya Al-Salqan, CEO of Jaffa.net. “We are proud of this project, and without JAWWAL’s faith in our capabilities, we wouldn’t have been able to succeed. Completing this project helps to advance the IT sector in Palestine. The success of this program will help other local companies and businesses increase their trust in finding IT solutions within the Palestinian market and we urge other companies to follow in JAWWAL’s footsteps.” He added that his company used the most advanced Oracle solutions in taking on this substantial project, with great cooperation from Oracle Worldwide. It
is notable that such cooperation between two active
members of the Palestinian IT Association (PITA) will
contribute to creating an independent Palestinian IT
sector, and increases the sector’s ability to compete
with international products, which is often offered at
higher prices but without similar guarantees and local
troubleshooting options. |
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Located in Gaza, and could be contacted through Mr. Ahmed-Rami Abueloun, General Manager. PC World was established in 1995, and is active in Computer Hardware. For more information please click here 3. Assali Computer Services Located in Jerusalem, and could be contacted through Mr. Khalid Assali, CEO. For more information about Assali Computer Services contact Mr. Assali at: info@assali.com
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Located in Ramallah, and could be contacted through Mr. Nabih Halaseh , General Manager. Integrated Solutions was established in 1999, and is active in Computer Hardware, IT consultancy, and Networking. For more information please click here
For more information about Assali Computer Services contact Mr. AlDaqaq at: Click Here
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I.
Telecom Policies & Regulations:
Headed by Mr. Tareq Maayah
II.
HR &
Education:
Headed by Mr. Murad Tahboub
III.
E-Commerce:
Headed by Dr. Yahya Salqan
IV.
Public
Tendering:
Heded by Mr. Jameel Daher Dr. Mashhour Abudaka, PITA Executive Director, and Mr. Tareq Touqan, PITA Legal Advisor are members in all of the above committees. |
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PITA Board of Directors, and Telecom Committee, meet with Mr. Zuhair Laham, and other representatives of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. The meeting focused on bridging the gaps between the private sector and the ministry, in order to reach an agreement that guarantees a healthy organization and development of the Palestinian Telecom Sector. All the parties in the meeting agreed to open a dialogue with the ministry through a committee consisting from PITA, Paltel, MoPT, and other related institutions. PITA Board of Directors and Members participate in the meetings arranged by the Private Sector Coordinator Council to discuss the Draft Palestinian Income Law. PITA attended a meeting held by Aman - The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability http://www.aman-palestine.org, in which Dr. Salam Fayad; Minister of Finance, presented the PNA budget http://www.mof.gov.ps/moazana.html , achievements, and obstacles facing his ministry in its new reform approach. PITA representatives in the meeting requested arranging another meeting for the private sector organizations with the minister, which he promised to take place soon. In Cooperation with PITA; JAWWAL (Palestine Cellular Company) invited the Palestinian companies interested in providing it with services to participate in a “two Day” Open House, where each interested company got to update JAWWAL on its latest services and offerings. PITA welcomes such cooperation between Palestinian Companies. PITA Board of Directors has approved a request by the ISOC-Palestine, Chapter to be hosted temporarily at PITA office. http://www.isoc-ps.org |
A Delegation consisting of Dr. Mashhour Abudaka, PITA Executive Manager, Mr. Omar Sahili, DAI / IT sector Manager, and Mr. Kamel Husseini, G.M. of Ellam Tam PR & Media Company, attended the Jeddah Economic Forum which was held from 18 to 20 Jan 2003. The Forum is annually organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board. The delegation met with members of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce to discuss future links. The Palestinian Delegation also met with Comdex Management and several other Saudi officials, and organizations as part of a Mission that aimed to significantly contribute to and support the overall marketing and market penetration strategies of the Palestinian IT Association as well as the Palestine Trade Center (Paltrade). More specifically, this study visit aimed to; 1) Network with related Saudi trade organizations, and key decision makers in order to build strong allies; (2) Better prepare for a trade mission to Saudi Arabia in April in cooperation with Paltrade; (3) Effective planning for Comdex Jeddah exhibition and provide relevant recommendations Based on the recommendations of the delegation; PITA and Paltrade are preparing for a trade mission parallel to Comdex Jeddah 2003, in which most of the Palestinian Economic Sectors will be represented. |
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Israeli Soldiers destroy "Wamda" Kids Educational Application
Almost
two years ago, Modern Tech Corporation (www.mtcgaza.com)
started work on the production of science and technology
software program 'Wamda' to present it in a package
(booklet + CD) suitable for children at the age range
7-12 year old. The material of the booklet was compiled
at a record time despite the continued power failure,
technical problems and the bombing of Palestine Radio
station in two occasions. The CD audio material was in
some occasions, worked upon by several children who had
to immediately resume recording following Israeli air
raids or at times when the situation was exceptionally
critical. This to us was a great victory over oppression
and tyranny. Ten thousands copies of the package were
printed and almost ready for collection at any day last
week. They were distant to be distributed through Future
Kids-Palestine to schools in the West Bank, Gaza and
historic Palestine. However, it seems that the final
touches of Wamda were to suffer the same fate as the
production process but this time with a difference! The
recent Israeli 'electioneering' incursions into
Palestinian areas have given the Israelis the liberty to
bomb various metal ware sites labeled as 'bomb making
factory'. Sadly the ignorant soldiers seemed to have
confused a printing machine with a drill, a metal
grinder or a polisher. Indeed they exploded the printing
shop (26th Jan.) wrecking all equipment and more
surprisingly removing seven thousands copies of Wamda
that
could have well been considered by
the same
soldiers as a 'military manual' of
' fatal
threat to state security'.
The renowned Israeli journalist Amira Haas has visited
the site and |
written about the incident in an article (published this week) titled ' Weapons of light construction ' which could be found on: www.Haaretz.com . With reference to Wamda she wrote: “They [Israeli soldiers] had climbed up to the gallery and confiscated a file with thousands of disks - with science and technology learning materials for children. "Futurekids", the series is called. Ismail [the owner] printed the texts that go with the disks and was then supposed to have distributed them to schools and book shops. "That was the biggest shock, that they took these learning materials for children," said Ismail" To the disappointment of the rampagents and the neo-thugs of humanity my will to complete this project has never been stronger. We in the past, intended to print 10,000 copies of the package with few extra copies to distribute to our circle of friends. This time the circle will be significantly wider while the initial number of copies multiplied (hopefully) thanks to the army of the 'man of peace'. If a children's book posed a threat to the Army State then you may wish to see how 'threatening' the product of our adventure has been. We shall upon a personal expression of interest, dispatch the entire material to all interested so it is not only shared with more children as a symbol of challenge but also an effort that makes whoever wanted to distance our children from knowledge rest in pieces .
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PITA has upgraded its office to include a Video Conference Facility, we here would like to thank the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), who generously funded the purchase of this equipment. Through this facility PITA will connect its offices in Ramallah, Dubai Internet City (DIC), and Gaza. PITA will facilitate the use of this facility to its members at a highly subsidized cost, to help them connect with their clients, partners, and other organizations. Kindly contact PITA members’ coordinator: majdolin@pita-palestine.org, if you would like to benefit from our offer. |
PITA Participates in the National Emergency Committee PITA was invited to participate in an initiative to organize a national emergency committee to coordinate and plan the all the efforts in case a war on Iraq takes place. This is a voluntary civil initiative that aims to combine efforts of all private, civil society, public sectors in addition to personal initiatives to design an emergency plan that will be implemented if such situation occurs and to accomplish the following goals: 1. International protection, by securing the availability of international observers, this will be achieved in coordination with the “Grassroots International Protection of the Palestinian People”, and by inviting more active anti war groups, and organizations. 2. Securing food in coordination with the ministry of Social Affairs and ministry of supplies. 3. Coordinating a special health emergency program in cooperation with ministry of health, and other health organizations. 4. Contingency Plans for public services, electricity, water, telecommunications, educations…etc. 5. Securing the media coverage in coordination with local and international journalists, and the ministry of Information. 6. Awareness campaigns for people prior and during the war. PITA is part of this initiative, as we attended all of the preparatory meetings, and contributed to the plans of the sub committees. PITA has offered its support to this initiative and is welling to provide any technical assistance whenever is needed. |
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Telephone: 02 240 8478 Fax: 02 240 8479 Office Address: 3 Najy Al-Ali Street, El-Bireh, West Bank, Palestine Postal Address: PO Box 2460, Ramallah, Palestine Email: info@pita-palestine.org Mailing Lists: board@pita-palestine.org , Board only members@pita-palestine.org, All Members staff@pita-palestine.org , All Staff info@pita-palestine.org, selected members of staff pita@pita-palestine.org , selected members of staff |
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PITA is welling to announce your news, articles, and
activities in every issue of PITA’s E-News. Hence you
are requested to submit your contributions or
suggestions to
info@pita-palestine.org. |
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