The Ministry of Communications and Technology with the support of UNESCO Beirut conducted the first National Conference on Arab digital content in Syria on 24 of June 2009.
The conference, which was held in cooperation with the Syrian National Commission for UNESCO and the participation of several regional and international organizations. The conference stressed the importance of spreading the Arabic language for using it on the internet and the information and technology sectors. The aim is to increase and enrich the Arabic digital content so that Arabic users will find information, data, and references, which paves the way for a knowledge society and spreading free and accessible knowledge for all, as UNESCO Communication and Information sector seeks to accomplish.
The conference was under that patronage of Dr. Leila Attar the Syrian Deputy to the President, who praised the conference and stressed the importance to improve and enhance the digital content and to make available more information in Arabic. In an intervention on behalf of UNESCO, George Awad, Communication and Information Programme Officer at UNESCO Beirut who mentioned the importance of the Arabic digital content in preserving the language and in benefiting from all the content available in other languages, and in maintaining cultural diversity and attaining access to information for all. He also added that development of Arab digital content requires improved infra-stucture, modifications of policies and providing free access to the information highway.
Contact: George Awad
Link: UNESCO Communication Information website