Etisalat envisions economic growth in Arab world

Speaking at the ITU Connect Arab Summit in Doha, Qatar, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the patronage H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Etisalat chairman Mohammed Omran said: “The mobile industry’s contribution to socio-economic growth can be amplified with appropriate regulations that support a multiplier effect in ICT investment.

“Despite having some of the highest mobile penetration rates anywhere in the world, the Middle East and Africa is still in the first wave evolution of telecommunications as it moves from voice mobility to broadband connectivity.”

He added that the emerging markets of the Middle East and Africa must create an appropriate policy ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship to unlock the economic value of mobile broadband connectivity.

“Mobile communications is a powerful enabler of economic and social development but the benefits of mobility and connectivity can only be effective with the supportive engagement of policymakers and other stakeholders,” the chairman said.

Pursuing and realizing this vision in a country such as the UAE could materialize an ICT industry valued in excess of AED 100 billion by the end of 2016, a more than 130% increase over 2010’s figures.

The ITU Connect Arab Summit, organized in partnership with the League of Arab States (LAS), targets the development of ICT in the Arab World to accelerate economic growth and job creation.

“At Etisalat we have seen how we can improve the lives of people in 17 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia through the deployment of innovative and appropriate technology. We help economies develop through the provision of mobile commerce applications to the un-banked and under-banked, and we’re able to save lives through our innovative mHealth platform, ‘Mobile Baby’. This is the power and value of development in the ICT sector,” concluded Omran.

Etisalat’s delegation to the ITU Connect Arab Summit was led by the company’s Chairman, who was accompanied by the Etisalat Group’s CEO, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar and Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Eng. Ahmed bin Ali