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Information and Communication technology Cluster
Lebanon has several competitive advantages in the ICT
sector—especially in software and website
development—including a multilingual and skilled workforce;
world-class advertising and design firms; multilingual media
content providers and web portals; and a computer/Internet
friendly culture. Moreover, Lebanon has one of the highest
information and communication penetration rates in the
Middle East, whether measured by the estimated number of
Internet users (400,000), cellular mobile subscribers
(775,000) or adult literacy rate (92 percent for men; 80
percent for women).
Consequently, SRI is working to market Lebanon as a regional
ICT center, utilize Lebanon’s ICT capabilities to market
tourism and agribusiness activities, and support ICT policy
dialogue and reform.
Working in close collaboration with the Professional
Computer Association (PCA) and other Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT) industry stakeholders, SRI
carried out this year a variety of activities, ranging from
reducing the digital divide in rural Lebanon to ICT export
marketing and to enhancing the industry’s ability to carry
out collective cluster initiatives.
Filling the Information/Statistics Gap
SRI undertook a USAID-funded comprehensive survey of
Lebanon’s ICT industry. This is the first comprehensive
survey of the ICT industry to be conducted in Lebanon, or in
the Middle East. According to the survey’s key findings, the
estimated size of Lebanon’s ICT industry is $360 million to
$400 million in terms of total sales. Moreover, the industry
is growing rapidly, recording an impressive average annual
growth rate of 12.5 percent over the last two years. Other
key findings include an estimate of total ICT sector
employment of between 6,500 and 6,750 and the finding of a
strong export focus (accounting for over 75 percent of
sales) for nearly a quarter of responding software firms.
Key findings from this USAID-sponsored survey were presented
by SRI at a press conference in Beirut in June 2004. The
event was covered by 11 Lebanese newspapers. SRI
International published in January, 2005 the results of two
surveys it recently undertook with the Professional Computer
Association, Patterns of ICT Usage in Lebanon. Its purpose
was to determine the degree of adoption of information and
communications technologies (ICTs) in Lebanon. The study was
aimed at understanding the overall demand-side dynamics,
including barriers to adoption of these technologies such as
barriers to the use of computers, to the adoption of the
Internet, and to the diffusion of e-commerce and piracy. The
survey report can be accessed on the SRI website at
http://www.inmadevelopment.org/SRI/reports.asp
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Generating New Business
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SRI and its partner, the Professional Computer Association
(PCA), have helped Lebanese software and web design
companies generate new business through participation in
information and communications technology (IT) trade shows
and in-depth knowledge of the industry. Participation in ICT
trade shows has generated new export business leads for
Lebanese software companies and greater market penetration
into the Middle East and Gulf region. |
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In year 2, Lebanese
companies participated in Termium in Biel, Lebanon
(September 2003), GITEX in Dubai (October 2003), and a third
IT exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE (March 2004) for which USAID
provided financial support. Closing the Digital Divide. In
the ICT sector, SRI is supporting the Professional Computer
Association (PCA) in the installation of new PCA Internet
Point of Presence (PiPOP) centers in rural areas. Recently,
five PiPOP centers were established and opened in:
Moukhtara, Baalbeck, Jbeil, Hasbaya and Bekaa. SRI has
collaborated with PCA to increase the range of services
(business and educational) provided by new and existing
PiPOP centers.
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20/11/2004 |
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Official opening of Britel PiPOP center |
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In collaboration with USAID and SRI International,
the PCA and the Municipality of Britel celebrated
the official opening of Britel PiPOP center |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=408 |
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29/11/2004 |
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Official opening of Ras El-Maten PiPOP center |
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PCA and Ras El Maten Ladies Association celebrated
the opening of their PiPOP center |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=406 |
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21/12/2004 |
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Ceremony Train the trainer certificates |
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PCA, USAID, SRI and Microsoft celebrated the
completion of 27 PiPOP managers training |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail |
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10/3/2005 |
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Round table |
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PCA gathered many board members in a round table
discussion with Emre Berkin Microsoft chairman for
Middle East and Africa (MEA) to evaluate
possibilities of expending the cooperation between
PCA, USAID and Microsoft and the capabilities of the
PiPOP centers in new areas related to Ecotourism and
AgriBusiness ex: Tourism information desk at the
PiPOP centers. |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=454 |
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10/3/2005 |
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Official opening of Baalbeck PiPOP center |
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PCA and the Lebanese organization for researches and
studies celebrated the opening of Baalbeck PiPOP
center, in collaboration with USAID and SRI
International |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=409 |
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10/2/2005 |
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Opening of a computer training center at the Bar
Association |
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The PCA opened a fully equipped computer training
center at the Lebanese Bar Association with the
capacity of training 20 lawyers at the same time |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=455 |
Institution
Build up
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24/02/2005 |
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PCA elections |
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Due to the consensus within the ICT sector in
general concerning the efforts and cooperation with
USAID and other donors, the members elected the PCA
president and most of the board for a new term. New
board members were elected by consensus that
includes members willing to dedicate major part of
their time to community work and activities. And the
new board for the first time includes 2 ladies
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=457 |
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28/12/2004 |
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First Annual Reception of the CSA - AUB - supported
by the PCA |
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A protocol of cooperation was signed between the
Professional Computer Association PCA and the
Computer Science Alumni of AUB in their first annual
reception |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=444 |
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12/1/2005 |
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Exhibitions workshop with Mr. Charlie Stathacos |
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Mr. Stathacos, an international specialist in Sales
and Marketing management for Trade shows and
Exhibitions, discussed lead generation and follow up
during and post trade shows |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=448 |
Studies &
Research
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16/02/2005 |
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Patterns of ICT usage in Lebanon |
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PCA, USAID and SRI issued a new study about ICT
Usage that reveal very important information related
to the PC penetration and usage in Lebanon and about
internet usage and other very important information
that shows the development of the ICT in Lebanon |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=462 |
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23/1/2005 |
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PC 4 all |
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The largest group of companies ever to join hands in
Lebanon history and in any sector, got together to
create one strong Lebanese computer company. 43
Lebanese companies in addition to Lebanese
individual diaspora joined hands and created the
PC4ALL initiative and the National PC company with
the objective of providing a low cost PC to the
Lebanese people, under the slogan of PC for every
home, it is a private sector initiative and driven,
the company got the Support of different
international and national bodies and ministries Ex:
Microsoft, Intel and the Ministry Omsad. Note in all
other country such initiatives are driven by
governments. This initiative was supported by a
study provided and supported by USAID which made the
initiative possible. And currently the company in
cooperation with PCA is trying to apply for a grant
from the USAID in order to develop better its
community development approach toward these issues |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=360 |
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28/02/2004 |
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Launching of the Union of Arab ICT Associations |
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ICT Lebanon Initiative supported by USAID gave the
opportunity to the Lebanese companies and to the PCA
to play a major role in the establishing of the
Union of Arab ICT association which itself is
supported by USAID. The PCA showed a high level of
maturity in social and community work. The PCA
proved to be the only arab ICT private sector
association that has a clear vision toward the
development of the community as a whole and that its
activities is not defined only to the ict companies
interest but to the entire country. On the 2st of
March the election for the Union took place in Sharm
Elcheikh organized by PCA and supported by USAID |
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http://www.pca.org.lb/Events_Detail.asp?id=437 |
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