Palestine Technopark and Partners Convene Networking Event for Palestinian Diaspora Network in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – On October 15, Palestine Technopark convened a networking event in Dubai through its initiative Palestine Diaspora Network, Bank of Palestine, Intersect, and Wamda Capital. This event took place on the sidelines of GITEX and was held at the Wamda Foundation headquarters. The meeting aimed to explore avenues for collaboration and support for the technology and entrepreneurship sector in Palestine.

The Palestinian Diaspora Technology Network is a global community of Palestinian professionals dedicated to empowering the technology and entrepreneurship sector in Palestine. By uniting members of the diaspora, the network facilitates the exchange of expertise and knowledge. Its mission is to harness the diverse skills and talents of Palestinians worldwide, creating a vibrant platform that promotes communication, collaboration, and innovation in the fields of technology and entrepreneurship.

This event was part of a series of gatherings designed to connect Palestinian professionals globally with various opportunities, both remotely and in person. These initiatives focus on mentoring, collaborative projects, and other efforts to foster Palestinian innovation and drive economic growth.

The event was attended by several Palestinian businessmen and technology professionals living abroad, along with a number of entrepreneurs and startup founders. Additionally, representatives from the Palestine TechnoPark, Intersect, Wamda Foundation, and Mercy Corps, represented by the Gaza Sky Geeks program, were also present.

The event was inaugurated by the master of the ceremony, Ms. Nora Abdul Hadi, who outlined the purpose of the gathering and introduced the participants. In her opening remarks, she highlighted that in times of adversity, communities have consistently shown remarkable resilience, serving as the driving force behind progress. In the wake of the devastating war in Gaza, these circumstances motivated us to establish a pathway that allows every Palestinian, regardless of their location, to access support from the Palestinian diaspora community.

Following her remarks, Mr. Fadi Ghandour, Director and Founder of Wamda, welcomed the guests and emphasized the significance of supporting the aforementioned network. He noted that this initiative is crucial on multiple levels, particularly in the current circumstances, whether through the transfer and exchange of knowledge or by assisting in the support and employment of young people in Palestine.

Next, Mr. Rateb Al-Rabi CEo of Intersect and his team delivered a presentation on the services offered by the incubator, highlighting various initiatives such as RISE Palestine, SAFE Palestine, and LINK Insourcing Solution. They also showcased the achievements made in the Gaza Strip, despite the challenging circumstances.

Following that, Mr. Mohammed Al-Taher, the manager of the Bank of Palestine branch in the UAE, presented an overview of the services offered by the bank in the UAE.

Following his presentation, Mr. Ala Alaeddin, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestine Technopark, welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude to Wamda and Intersect for their assistance in organizing the event. 

For his part, Mr. Alaeddin welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude to Wamda and Intersect for their support in organizing the event. He provided a detailed overview of the objectives of the Diaspora Network Initiative, which was launched by the park at the end of last year to bolster the technology and entrepreneurship sector in Palestine by connecting with young professionals working there. He explained that this meeting follows a series of gatherings held in London, Washington, Riyadh, and Canada aimed at activating the network and developing various programs to benefit Palestinian youth, with the "Tech Circles" project being one of the most notable initiatives.

In his speech, Mr. Alaeddin outlined the structured approach taken to initiate organized efforts by establishing several specialized committees: the Employment Committee, the Capacity Building Committee, the Universities Committee, and the Startup Committee. He encouraged the audience to get involved in these committees. 

Following him, Ms. Rand Safi, Director of the Gaza Sky Geeks Program in the West Bank with Mercy Corps, delivered a presentation on the organization's ongoing efforts to support the IT sector in the Gaza Strip. She also shared future plans aimed at further enhancing the sector in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Among the success stories of networking experiences shared so far, Mr. Mohammed Suwwan, Software Sales Manager at Cisco and currently residing in Germany, provided a brief overview of the volunteer initiatives he and his colleagues at Cisco have undertaken in Palestine and the Middle East. He highlighted their ongoing efforts within the “Time 2 Give for Palestine” project and discussed the collaboration with the Technopark to transfer knowledge to Palestinian youth through the Technology Days initiative. Additionally, he emphasized their commitment to supporting students with technology courses in both the West Bank and refugee camps in Lebanon.

Mr. Ramzi Qandah, joining via Zoom from Los Angeles, provided a brief overview of his experience at Foothill, where he employs over 300 individuals in the West Bank. He highlighted the advantages and significance of hiring Palestinian youth.

In conclusion, the ceremony master invited attendees to share their thoughts, and they responded positively to the initiative, expressing their readiness to engage with it. Several constructive suggestions were put forward during the discussion.

Palestinian Diaspora Technology Network:

The Palestinian Diaspora Technology Network is dedicated to empowering Palestinian entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, and small businesses by enhancing connections, providing essential resources, and facilitating access to markets. Our structure includes a central hub in Ramallah, along with branches in countries with significant diaspora populations.

How Can You Contribute?

We invite Palestinian professionals in the diaspora to join us. Your expertise is crucial for strengthening Palestine’s capabilities. Every collaboration opportunity contributes to fostering innovation, cooperation, and positive change within the Palestinian technology ecosystem.

Organizations interested in expanding their impact through partnership are encouraged to reach out to us via email at [email protected] to explore potential collaboration opportunities.