Bahrain will host the prestigious Cisco Networkers forum from March 28 to 31 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.

This is the first time that the industry-accredited networking forum will be held in the Middle East.

Developed in collaboration with the Government of Bahrain and with the support of Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Cisco Networkers Bahrain 2010 represents a key milestone for Cisco in terms of furthering its commitment and ongoing investment in the Middle East, said officials at a press conference.

Cisco Networkers Bahrain becomes one of the 10 annual Cisco Networkers events that span the globe, including those in the US, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Australia. It will attract more than 1,800 attendees from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Cisco Networkers conferences are unique and compelling forums that provide information and communications technology (ICT) professionals with in-depth technical demonstrations, networking opportunities and glimpses of current and future trends.

The global theme for Cisco Networkers 2010 is ‘Knowledge Is Power.’

Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatallah Al Khalifa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said: “The Bahraini government is very proud and honoured that our country was Cisco’s choice to host this pioneering, well-respected event in the Middle East.

“This is yet another initiative in line with the Bahrain government’s agreement to work closely with Cisco to improve the kingdom’s global competitiveness in information and communications technology,” he said.

Cisco Networkers is a forum that will provide business leaders, drivers and facilitators in the Middle East region with a firm foundation on which to help build and develop ICT-based initiatives within the region and beyond, and also to partner with global technology providers to support regional economic growth, he said.

Duncan Mitchell, senior vice president, Cisco Emerging Markets East, and executive sponsor, Cisco Networkers 2010, Bahrain, said: “Bahrain’s progressive telecommunications regulatory environment is encouraging the nation, and its citizens, to harness the power of the network to increase productivity levels, supporting accelerated GDP growth rates and an ever-higher standard of living.

“This strategy will strengthen Bahrain’s global competitiveness and help maximise the development of its national talent.  We view Bahrain as an excellent place to conduct business, and as a result have already chosen to locate our IT hub for the Gulf Cooperation Countries in Manama. We’re proud to be associated with Bahrain and honoured that the government would agree to be our host for the first-ever Cisco Networkers in the Middle East, a pioneering event for ICT leaders in an innovative country,” he said.

Mitchell said the forum will showcase technologies that will change the way people live, work and play. “The forum will be a catalyst of change.”

He said Bahrain enjoys an environment where technology thrives. The combination of technology and talent will make Bahrain competitive in the world market, he added.

On new technologies which could have a great impact on the future of the Internet, he said video technologies will change the way people communicate with each other.

Cisco enjoys a strong collaborative relationship with the Bahraini government and recently opened its latest Middle East office at the Bahrain Financial Harbor. The kingdom also represents a hub for Cisco's own ICT services. It also has an Internet data centre that supports the delivery of multiple technologies to offices in the region.

Cisco Networkers Bahrain will have five events running in parallel, over three days. Tailored to the different technology needs of the attendees, they comprise:
 * The main networkers technical conference, targeted at all the attendees, which will deliver innovation technology content covering Cisco’s solutions and architectures.
* A chief information officer & IT executive symposium targeted at CIOs and IT leaders
* An IT ‘insight’ conference for approximately 150 IT managers and business decision makers. 
* A dedicated press and analyst event targeted at approximately 40 key media and industry analysts.
* An awards ceremony recognising outstanding achievements that embrace innovation in business and technology. – TradeArabia News Service