[LCM Articles] Intel Chairman Begins New Projects To Help Revitalize Lebanon

Thu Apr 19 14:20:29 EDT 2007

Intel Chairman Begins New Projects To Help Revitalize Lebanon
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20070418corp.htm 

Technology and Training Key to Progress from the Partnership for Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 18, 2007 ? Following the announcement of a
collaborative effort with other corporations to help revitalize Lebanon,
Intel Chairman Craig Barrett today dedicated new projects to improve
education, healthcare and computer access to the Internet for its citizens.

Barrett's trip is the latest on behalf of the Partnership for Lebanon.
Through the group, Intel Corporation, Cisco Systems, GHAFARI Inc., Microsoft
and Occidental Petroleum are providing critically needed resources to bring
long term economic growth and stability to the country.

"It?s gratifying to see concrete results at advancing the economic and
social foundations of Lebanon thorough Intel's work with the US and Lebanese
private sectors," said Barrett during a day filled with tours, unveilings
and initiatives. They include: 

*	Intel is installing state-of-the-art wireless networks to accelerate
the use of technology and high-speed computer connections to access the vast
knowledge resources of the Internet. WiMAX systems are getting deployed at
two hospitals, one school and two community centers in Burj Al Barajneh,
Nabatiyeh, and Beirut. The longer-range wireless technology is considered a
more efficient way to bring connectivity to rugged and remote areas less
suited for installing cable or phone wires. 
*	Intel is donating more than 100 high-performance computers, known as
servers, to university engineering labs and science departments across
Lebanon. The Ministry of Education will select eight universities to receive
the computers. Microsoft and a local technology company, Triple C, are
providing software, support and installation services. 
*	Barrett announced that five-thousand teachers will be trained by the
end of this year on ways to use technology to enhance student learning. It's
part of the global IntelR Teach Program. He also joined in the celebration
of the 500th teacher to complete the program in Lebanon. 
*	In Burj Al Barajneh, Intel installed a high-speed Internet link for
a junior high school, built a computer lab and donated 25
specially-designed, fully functional notebook computers known as IntelR
classmate PCs. Teachers are also getting trained on ways to best use the
classmate PCs for educating their students. 
*	To keep the computers running and provide job skills too, Intel is
working with Mercy Corp Youth Training to teach youngsters how to service
the classmate PCs. 
*	In Abey, Barrett revisited the Druze Orphanage where two computer
labs for students were built by Intel employees on sabbatical using funds
contributed by other employees and the company. 
*	Intel is seeding another project to encourage community access to
computers by providing more than 180 PCs for community centers across the
country. Intel is buying the computers from local companies as a model way
to spur economic growth. 
*	Intel Capital is investing $500,000 in an innovative technology
incubator in Lebanon. The Berytech Fund aims to finance start-ups or invest
in as many as ten technology companies in emerging regions. 
*	In another effort to spark future commercial growth, two university
students are on their way to the US to learn the basics of starting a
business so they can bring that knowledge back to their country. They are
the first from Lebanon to enroll in the IntelR Entrepreneurship Program,
which was jointly developed by Intel and the Haas School of Business at the
University of California, Berkeley. 
*	Across Lebanon, Intel will also hold forums with local industry
leaders on the best ways to create and sustain economic growth. 

"Access to education and technology increases the opportunities for the
people of Lebanon," said Barrett.

At a stop in Beirut, Barrett announced Intel is also increasing technical
and doctor training support for a Telemedicine Program at one of Lebanon's
top hospitals, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and the
Nabatiyeh Governmental Hospital in Nabatiyeh. The Telemedicine systems
provide the hospitals with real-time video consultation between physicians
kilometers apart, the ability to share data and to diagnose patients from
afar.

Without Telemedicine, Nabatiyeh citizens needing a specialist would have to
travel to Beirut, a trip that can be long and arduous.

"The Nabatiyeh-Beirut Telemedicine Program could not come at a better time,"
said Dr. Nadim Cortas, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the
faculty of medicine and the American University of Beirut Medical Center.
"Since last summer, there has been an increase in eye and skin problems due
mainly to crowding, particularly among the residents of South Lebanon. Now
we can bring medical expertise to more people, and faster than before."

The innovation gives local doctors the ability to access the latest medical
data and get second opinions from specialists and medical centers hundreds
of kilometers away.

Since the start of the program in 2006, the Partnership for Lebanon has
supplied critical resources for reconstruction efforts. The group is focused
on job creation, workforce training and education, rebuilding the country's
communications and computing capabilities, providing connectivity to
communities and government, and responding to crisis.

Intel's goal through these efforts, which are an extension its World Ahead
Program, is not only to bring affordable PCs and Internet access to
developing communities. But also to train teachers and provide the
technology education needed to make a meaningful difference in people's
lives.

Aiding redevelopment

by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Thursday, 19 April 2007 
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content
<http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id
=11342> &view=article&id=11342 

 <javascript:;> During the last year Barrett has been travelling the world
to show how technology can be leveraged by poor communities to make their
lives better.

During the last year Barrett has been travelling the world to show how
technology can be leveraged by poor communities to make their lives better.

Intel's globetrotting philanthropic chairman Craig Barrett touched down in
Lebanon this week to unveil a string of initiatives aimed at helping the
stricken country back on its feet. IT Weekly looks at the impact the
proposals will have.

As part of his role as Intel chairman, Craig Barrett is a regular visitor to
the Middle East. However, this week's visit to Lebanon was a little unusual
even by Barrett's standards, as he announced a series of initiatives aimed
at helping to promote redevelopment of the war-torn country.

Barrett was in the country under the aegis of the Partnership for Lebanon: a
group of companies dedicated to supporting the restructuring of the country
following last year's conflict. Through the group, Intel, Cisco, Ghafarai,
Microsoft and Occidental Petroleum are providing critically needed resources
to bring long-term economic growth and stability to the country.

Speaking to IT Weekly last week, before the trip, Barrett said that the aim
was to "help rebuild Lebanon in a way I think different than direct
government financing [which is] trying to rebuild roads and bridges and
basic infrastructure."

"Our activities are really directed more toward longer-term sustainable
economic development, educational development, infrastructure development in
the country," Barrett said.

The Intel chairman admitted to being "really worried" about a number of key
issues affecting Lebanon's long-term recovery and development: improvement
of the ICT infrastructure; workforce training and employment opportunities;
development of businesses; healthcare capability and improvement in
governance were some of the key areas he identified.

This week saw Intel unveil a number of key projects aimed at addressing some
of those concerns, including state-of-the-art WiMax networks deployed at
hospitals and community centres, the donation of high-performance computers
to university engineering labs and the enrolment of up to 5,000 teachers in
a technology training programme.

"It's gratifying to see concrete results at advancing the economic and
social foundations of Lebanon thorough Intel's work with the US and Lebanese
private sectors," Barrett said in the statement announcing these - and
several other - projects.

One area where Intel is keen to support development in the region is in the
creation of a stronger entrepreneurial culture. This is not altogether
surprising - Intel claims to be the world's largest venture capital firm and
half of its investment activities are outside North America.

In Lebanon, Intel has invested in a technology incubator fund, the Berytech
Fund, which aims to invest in as many as ten technology companies in the
region.

Barrett last week acknowledged that other investment initiatives that Intel
has undertaken in the region have not done as well as the chip giant would
have liked - a US$50million venture capital fund designed to invest in
regional technology companies has seen less than 10% take-up so far.

"The way that we structure our fund is that we look for viable business
plans, typically we are not in the mode of what I call angel funding or
funding business ideas to turn them into plans, we typically get involved
with other entities to fund what we consider viable business plans," Barrett
said.

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