Mohammad praises Gitex rise

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday inaugurated the 26th edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex 2006)

Accompanied by Shaikhs, ministers, top officials and businessmen, Shaikh Mohammad toured the exhibition for two hours and visit the stands of the international, regional and local participants. Shaikh Mohammad reviewed, watched, and stopped to talk to the participants and technology experts.

He welcomed the rise in participation at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, saying that it confirms the importance, pioneering position and status of Dubai as a window on the region's markets, especially the Middle East and North Africa.

He expressed satisfaction at the expansion of the exhibition area to host the event which ranks as the third-largest ICT exhibition in the world.

Shaikh Mohammad urged government departments in the UAE in general and Dubai especially to take the opportunity and benefit from the exhibition to transfer the advanced hi-tech to the country's e-government to develop and extend the electronic services to all government departments.

Shaikh Mohammad visited the stalls of Micro-soft, Toshiba, IBM, Oracle and LG, where he was briefed on the latest technology, telecom and electronic developments and products.

Shaikh Mohammad also officially inaugurated the new website of both the Ministry of Labour and the Federal National Council elections.

He also toured the Gitex media centre and urged the press to take full advantage of the latest media and electronic communication systems and facilities.

The function was attended by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, and Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Also present were the ministers of Energy, Labour, Justice and Education, and the minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, Minister of State for Financial and Industry Affairs and the minister of Governmental Sector Development.