Inauguration of Syrian-COMSATS-COMSTECH Information Technology Centre (SCCITC), Damascus - Syria

The IT Centre will be inaugurated in Damascus on 8th January 2001 by the Chief Executive of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Gen. Pervez Musharraf and President of Syrian Arab Republic H.E. Mr. Hafiz Bashar Al-Asad.

The success of the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Pakistan has inspired the establishment of similar IT centres in other member countries. Over the years, COMSATS has developed superior capabilities in the area of information technology, which would be employed in the establishment of the IT centre in Damascus.

The centre is being established as part of the cooperation agreement between Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and OIC Standing Committee on Science and Technology (COMSTECH), which aims at integrating efforts for science and technology development in the common member countries. Information Technology has been set as the priority area in this agreement with the objective of rendering quality training and other services in the allied areas like Internet, software development, and research. This project would contribute towards the human resources development in the south through promoting technical education and would enable the developing countries like Syria to respond to the opportunities that exist and keep multiplying in the highly dynamic world of IT.

The agreement to establish Syrian-COMSATS-COMSTECH Information Technology Centre (SCCITC) at Damascus, Syria was signed at Damascus on September 26, 2000. A 3-member delegation from COMSATS & COMSTECH visited Syria to solemonize the signing ceremony.

The subject Information Technology Center would function in collaboration with COMSATS, COMSTECH and Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Syrian Arab Republic, who would look after the assignments as demarcated under the agreement. The Government of Syria would be responsible for providing premises for the center alongwith suitable furnishing and equipping it with all utility services including telephone, Internet and fax. The assignment of COMSATS and COMSTECH would comprise providing equipment with state-of-the-art computer systems and machinery with regular upgradation in accordance with resource availability to keep up with the most recent developments in technology, training courses and other services. COMSATS would also undertake training of the Centre's staff, training curricula development and provision of hardware and software.