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Silatech and Cisco Accelerate Strategic Collaboration To Develop Technology Platforms in Support of Youth Enterprise and Employment in the Arab World

Doha, Qatar , 1 June 2008 - Cisco announced today that the company will deepen its commitment to supporting Arab youth by designating its globalization center to support Silatech, an initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned of Qatar, in developing a region-wide technology platform. Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers will oversee Cisco’s commitment on Silatech's board of trustees.

The technology platform will include innovative applications that will help enable instant interaction and on-demand collaboration among businesses and individuals alike, including face-to-face video meetings and blogging.

Cisco Chief Globalisation Officer and Executive Vice President, Wim Elfrink said, “Cisco will help Silatech scale promising youth-led enterprise and regional collaboration through the use of cutting-edge ICT to stimulate scalable economic and social development projects across the region. Through our globalisation center, we will be building upon our knowledge and expertise in workforce development programs to create a favorable environment for ICT education and allow individuals to interact with their prospective employees in a fast and highly secure manner.” Elfrink will lead the strategic collaboration with Silatech.

Silatech is an innovative initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, with broad support from other leaders and organizations both regionally and internationally. It is being created to address the critical and growing need to create new jobs and opportunities for young people globally, starting in the Arab world – the region of the world with the highest rates of youth unemployment and underemployment. Silatech’s vision is aligned with Cisco’s intent to use the network as the platform to drive scalable, sustainable business models that can help lift the social and economic status of youth.

Chairman of the Silatech Executive Committee and board member Rick Little said, “Cisco’s strategic collaboration with Silatech introduces the power of Web 2.0 to build and support sustainable entrepreneurship and job creation opportunities. We aim to deploy a mix of traditional and social networking tools to connect today's youth with other entrepreneurs and established businesses across the region.”

Another key part of this collaboration is the creation of youth targeted entrepreneur centers whereby Silatech and Cisco will work together with in-country partners to roll-out the Entrepreneur Institute in five Arab countries within the next 12 months. The Institute will help facilitate the development of entrepreneurial businesses by offering three training tracks designed for entrepreneurs seeking to start their own business, grow their business, or deploy information and communications technology (ICT) to help accelerate their business success."

About Silatech

The "Silatech" initiative was initiated and launched by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned at the Annual Forum for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations held in Madrid on January 15-16, 2008. It stems from Her Highness’ drive and determination to address the critical and growing need to create new jobs and opportunities for young people globally, starting in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a pragmatic initiative which aims to offset the lack of opportunity and economic marginalisation of many young people throughout the Arab world by enabling systemic changes, in policy and mindset, at regional and global levels.

Silatech’s objectives include promoting market based job training; enabling state-of-the-art contact and counseling centres; experimenting with cutting edge technologies to connect young people with each other and potential employers; providing access to business development services and capital for aspiring young entrepreneurs; and breaking down cultural barriers to risk taking and entrepreneurship.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in emerging markets is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

For more information, please contact:

Silatech
P.O. Box 34111
Doha, Qatar
Tel : +974 (499) 4800
Fax : +974 (472) 7651
Info@Silatech.com