1. Investment in ICT: A Critical Enabler July 22, 2004 IDAL

2. ICT Sector at a Glance IDAL Key Indicators Sector TurnoverUS$360 - US$400 million Growth Rate12.5% p.a ICT Companies600 Total Employment6,500-6,750 ICT Graduates p.a1,200 Source: SRI International 2004 “Lebanon is blessed by a pool of human resources that can build and grow the information technology sector into vibrant player in socio-economic development of the country…” Neil Holloway Corporate VP Microsoft

3. IDAL Well-funded Research & Development Well-educated & skilled workers Consumer-oriented society Well-developed physical & telecommunication infrastructure Competitive business environment Investing in ICT: Key Drivers “Lebanon has the human capital and the educational strength to become a prominent IT player…” Gilbert Lacroix President Intel

4. IDAL Well-educated & skilled workers Investing in ICT: Key Drivers  91% education rate  Multilingual and multi-skilled  Highly productive and highly adaptable  1,200 ICT graduates per year Consumer-oriented society  Market of over 300 million consumers – launch pad to MENA countries  Rapid adopter of ICT  Advanced customer base - willing to embrace new technologies "Lebanon offers numerous advantages to a company like Oracle: a strategic location, creative talent and renowned business and services infrastructure…” Kassem Fares Director Oracle

5. IDAL “Lebanon is well positioned in the Arab World to take leading role in software development…” Bashar Kilani Manager IBM Investing in ICT: Key Drivers Well developed physical & telecommunication infrastructure  Improved physical infrastructure  Improved telecommunication infrastructure  Better country telecommunication ranking  Declining telecommunication tariffs  Planned privatization of telecommunication services  The Beirut Emerging Technology Zone – BETZ

6. IDAL Investing in ICT: Key Drivers Competitive business environment Well-funded Research & Development  Updated regulatory environment  Attractive fiscal incentives by virtue of the Investment Development Law 360  Facilitation services through IDAL’s One Stop Shop  The Beirut Emerging Technology Zone – BETZ  Independent R&D initiatives  Enhanced opportunities for collaboration with universities and/or other institutions of higher education through BETZ “I definitely believe we’ve got an edge in Beirut, we have an advantage in being able to sell to French speaking territories in Africa and Europe…” Bashar Kilani Manager IBM

7. Thank You Samih Barbir Chairman – Managing Director Tel: + 961 (1) 983306/7/8 Fax: + 961 (1) 983302/3 Web:www.idal.org E-mail: invest@idal.com.lb IDAL