Telecom for Lebanon – Tapping the Diaspora successfully took place on December 29 2008 under the auspices of H.E. Engineer Gebran Bassil at the Metropolitan Palace and in the presence over 40 top-tier telecom experts from the Diaspora as well as local high level Telecom executives from both the private and public sectors. Were present as well the co-organizing members of which Berytech, PCA, PFL and TRA.

Mr. Maroun Chammas, President of Berytech, welcomed participants in his opening address. “Ladies and gentlemen, he declared, we only have a few short hours to complete this mission and make it a success. Let us all contribute and show how great a nation we can be”

Minister Bassil presented to the audience his policy paper, which was followed by a presentation of five roundtable themes and challenges during a first plenary session open to the public and the media. The themes presented were the following:

A. Lebanese Diaspora contribution in Telecom development:

B. Lebanon, an Information Society, Hub of the MENA region: Media City, Technology zones, ICT areas:

C. Reforms: Privatization, Liberalization, Regulation, creation of Liban Telecom:

D. Impact on the Economy growth: Telecom spread, Call Centers, e-Applications, Infrastructure and services

E. Broadband Lebanon: The Roadmap, Pilot Projects, Regionally balanced development.

Roundtable participants broke out to their respective conference rooms to debate the challenges and propose recommendations. Berytech executives actively participated on roundtables B and D.

Following several hours of intense brainstorming all participants reconvened to the second plenary session, which was open as well to the public and the media to present and further discuss recommendations.

The event was concluded by a Gala dinner at the Dubai Hall of the Metropolitan Palace Hotel to celebrate the success of this iniative.

For more information about this conference, and to read about the recommendations www.telecomforlebanon.org