SOUTHERN SHUNEH, Jordan (AP)--U.S. networking giant Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) signed a memorandum of understanding with a Palestinian telecommunications company Saturday on the sidelines of an international economic gathering in Jordan, setting the stage for developing the telecommunications infrastructure in the Palestinian territories.
In a separate development, the World Economic Forum announced the extension of its Education Initiative to the Palestinian Authority that began in Jordan two years ago. It will provide Palestinian pupils with computer hardware, software and online tutelage in subjects like Mathematics, English, the sciences, Information Technology, and Arabic.
"Such an event says a lot about where Palestinians want to go," said Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath as he prepared to sign the agreement.
"They want to go to peace, a just and fair peace. They want to go to the development of high technology," he said as Mark De Simone, Cisco's vice-president for the Mideast and Africa, and Abdel-Malik Jaber from Palestine Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (PALTEL.PL), or PALTEL, initialed the memo.
The document allows for expanded Internet, mobile and landline services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, PALTEL and Cisco said in a joint statement. It didn't provide other details on the deal.
The World Forum's school program, known as the "Palestinian Education Initiative," will develop curricula and infrastructure in the school districts and ensure effective monitoring so that changes made are sustainable.
Many of the companies involved in the Jordan's Education Initiative - including Cisco and other international firms like Computer Associates (CA), Intel Corp. (INTC) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) - are considering becoming involved in the project.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires"
Posted to the site on 22nd May 2005
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