Eminent telecommunications experts and market leaders from across the South Asia, Middle East and North Africa region will discuss key technology issues and their impact at a major conference in Doha this week.

“Convergence to Doha 2011”, the annual flagship event of Samena Telecommunications Council, will be held on November 1 and 2 at Sharq Village and Spa by Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Bocar A Ba, president of Samena Telecommunications Council, said: “Amidst the growing concerns of the fragility of the global economy and the looming debt crisis, the telecommunications sector is increasingly being looked at as the silver lining and as a windfall for various governments that are striving to stimulate economic growth. Promoting and bringing to fruition convergence within the telecommunications industry, in order to create a knowledge-based sector that can develop and implement an informed and innovative roadmap for progression, has never been more important.

“Samena’s ‘Convergence to Doha 2011’ will provide regional telecommunications professionals with the opportunity to identify collaborative approaches and growth prospects to not only meet consumer demand but also increase revenues,” he said.

“This year’s event is very important not only from an industry perspective due to the unique challenges that the regional telecommunications industry is facing and the opportunity that it offers, but also for the Council itself for a number of reasons. Not only will a new Board of Directors be appointed for SAMENA, a new Sub-Sea Committee will also be announced. In addition, owing to the tremendous success and response that we have received to the ‘Annual SAMENA Awards’, we have added an extra category this year for Satellite Providers,” added Ba.

The conference will feature a key note address by Dr Nasser Marafih, CEO of the Qtel Group, and a CEO Live Session on the “Role of ICT in the economic growth”, moderated by Karim Sabbagh of Booz & Co. Speakers include Saud Al Daweesh, CEO of the STC Group; Jamal Jarwan, CEO, Etisalat International Investments; Karim Daoud, CEO of Intigral; Nayla Khawam, CEO of Orange Jordan; Osman Sultan, CEO of du; Andrew Hanna, Viva Bahrain; Hakam Kanafani, Turk Telekom; Wilson Varghese, Kalimatand; and  Mohamad Al Mandjra, Meditel. Thomas Wilson, CEO Samena, will give a closing key note address.

The ‘4th Annual SAMENA Awards’ will be held in conjunction with the gala dinner on November 1 to recognise leadership and excellence in the telecommunications industry in the Samena region.  - TradeArabia News Service