The Information and Communications Technology Association - Int@j and Endeavor Jordan stated that the Invest in ICT event which will take place on March 6, 2013 under the MENA ICT Forum 2013 will be a great opportunity for investors to meet with participating ICT SMEs and growth capital companies in its exclusive matchmaking platform. "The Invest in ICT event which is co-organised by int@j & Endeavor Jordan has attracted more than 30 investors, ranging from Arab and foreign investment funds. This event will be launched under the MENA ICT Forum as the first exclusive regional investment matchmaking event. Such events are highly needed to complement the regional investment and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and to boost regional ICT companies growth and expansion." said Abed Shamlawi, CEO of int@j. “Participating investors include: Global Investment House, Y+ Ventures, Abraaj Capital, Dash Ventures, OT Ventures, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development – EBRD, International Finance Corporation, , MENA Venture Investments, Middle East Venture Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center and others," he added. From Endeavor Jordan's side, Rasha Manaa – Managing Director added “this event will bring together regional and international investors with aspiring companies and entrepreneurs from Jordan, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. . The format of the event was structured to benefit both investors and entrepreneurs and allow maximum interaction between both parties. The matchmaking sessions will be the highlight of the event, offering companies the opportunity to closely interact and connect with prospective investors during one-on-one meetings". The event will include other activities, such as an opening speech and open debates between the participants, in addition to activities that promote building relationships, expanding professional networks, and contribute to the advancement of the investment state in the region. The sixth MENA ICT Forum will be held under the patronage of King Abdullah II on March 6-7 at the Dead Sea, in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Jordan. The Forum is particularly significant at this time, during which the ICT sector is witnessing international transformations and moving towards increased communications and convergence of IT with various economic sectors, as well as revolutionised concepts of mobile communications, computing, high-speed Internet networks and social media networks. The Forum has achieved great and important successes in the past under the title "Jordan ICT Forum" in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006; all of which served as a basis for an all-encompassing forum carrying a new name - “The MENA ICT Forum" in 2010. The 2013 forum will cover new and exceptional levels that concern the region with a timetable that is rich in content, and includes a number of core issues that deal with the regional investment environment, supporting legislation, the infrastructure of the ICT sector, and leadership and investment in start-up companies. It will also cover education and development of human resources. Moreover, the Forum will also include an ICT exhibition, an innovation and entrepreneurship theatre, a digital gaming corner and other events.
