Beirut Emerging Technology Zone - BETZ
BETZ is a technology park providing local and global ICT firms with state-of-the-art and environmentally-sound facilities to establish and expand business in Lebanon, the Middle East and North Africa.
BETZ’s mission is to provide an environment enabling the comprehensive development of the ICT industry by promoting specialization in niche markets where Lebanon offers a competitive advantage. It also aims to attract international technology companies to operate and invest through the development an enabling state of the art infrastructure for BETZ. It also will encourage the growth of local ICT firms and act as a catalyst for the creation of new technology-enabled services and products. In addition, it will showcase Lebanon as a potential and sustainable major hub for technological development in the MENA region.
As for the objectives of this project, BETZ will establish a conductive environment to stimulate the development of knowledge-based companies and create a regional technology industry distribution point with access to major potential markets in the MENA region. It will also create and facilitate opportunities for collaboration with universities and/or institutions of higher education and enhance, support, and promote technological innovation by providing a value for money and no hassles facility to house start ups and small companies. In addition, BETZ will reduce time-to-market and cost per unit of technology products sold in Lebanon by having final assembly and packaging of units accomplished locally and incubate new technology-oriented businesses, and minimize impediments to their growth. It will as well encourage venture capital involvement in the technology sector in Lebanon and create job opportunities for highly-qualified professionals and thus slowdown the ‘brain drain’ and contribute to the growth of the national economy as a whole.
The following technology industries sectors have been earmarked for BETZ:
- Information technology
- Telecommunications
- Computer & peripherals
- Internet software & services
- Multimedia
- Electronics
- Electrical equipment & products
- Bio-technology
- Healthcare providers & services
The implementation of this project will be supported by a highly skilled work force, excellent educational institutions, strong links with industry and a healthy research and development environment. Currently, BETZ is in the phase of getting more official approvals.
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