FNMD’s new Team Leader, Dr Bernard O‘ Sullivan, participated as a key speaker at the Expotech Panel Discussion on ‘Building a Knowledge-Based Economy‘ held in Ramallah on November 2. In his presentation he underlined the importance of ICT in Palestine as an enabling tool to improve the competitiveness of key sectors of the Palestinian economy. He encouraged ICT companies to access FNMD resources to identify international market opportunities in partnership with companies from other economic sectors.

FNMD is a 3-year, ₤3.6 million grants project funded by the UK’s Department for international Development with contributions from the World Bank that helps Palestinian companies enter new markets and develop new products.

So far, FNMD is supporting 24 ICT companies from West Bank and Gaza and works closely with PITA, the Palestinian Information Technology Association of Companies, to encourage more Palestinian ICT companies to invest in international and local business expansion and product innovation. The early successes of several FNMD client companies demonstrate that Palestinian companies can compete successfully locally and internationally.

The Expotech Technology Week (Nov 2 – 6, 2009, Ramallah) is the largest technological event in Palestine, bringing together Palestinian and international industry leaders and government representatives. Last year, over 23,000 people visited this trade show. Several FNMD ICT clients are exhibiting at Expotech. For more information, please visit www.expotech.ps