INTRODUCTION:

The motto of the event is “Partnerships for Competitiveness, Innovation and Cyber Security”. The major objective is to establish and promote effective partnerships among the public and the private sectors, associations and other IT&T industry related organizations in the Central and East Europe, Baltic States, Caucasus and Middle Asia region to promote competitiveness, innovation and security.

Region should take the benefit of information and communication technologies (ICT) and IT innovation as an enabling tool to deliver economic growth and acceleration in productivity. During this event we shall see how to maximize the economic gains from ICT and seek to identify the critical success factors that policymakers and managers must address to improve the rewards of ICT since economic growth in developed countries is strongly linked to ICT development.

Development in the IT sector makes a distinct impact on the nation. Georgia has already entered in the e-era which needs strategic support and impetus from various sectors. A number of sectors that need fostering are e-commerce, e-governance, e-services, e-learning and others. We have to save time, money and effort which can be utilized for the development of the nation in the present stage of transition to build a progressive, developed, economically strong community.

Georgia and all countries in the region, is in the emerging state of the e-era. Potential support, technical advice and plans for strengthening the financial structure are fundamental necessities for a successful e-Georgia and next e-Caucasus, e-Region. Fast processing mechanism, one-window-payment system, distance-learning, e-business helps transparent administration, economic development and the development of people.

Current year is especially important for innovations related with issuing of new Electronic ID-s. Current event will pay special attention to “Smart City” concept and issues of its implementation.

This year for the second time GITI event will pay attention to cyber security. As the experience shows, a lot of cyber security related incidents have been accrued in the world within last years and their number is growing. Georgia has made the first steps towards analyzing the state of affairs in cyber security field and developing policies on how to strengthen it. However, a lot is left to be desired. Without proper attention to the security, it is not possible to fully get the benefits that IT technologies bring to the society. This year’s event will aim to attract policymakers and society’s attention to the cyber security challenges and finding out tools for regional partnership and cooperation.

Therefore, the ICT Business Council of Georgia , and the LEPL Data exchange Agency of Ministry of Justice of Georgia  are organizing the 4th annual Regional Information Technology and Cyber Security Event (Conference / Exhibition / Award) in November 17-19, 2011 in Tbilisi.

The purpose of this conference is to reflect the significance of information technology in terms of creating an engine of growth for socio-economic development of Region; network with stakeholders and build awareness regarding IT and Cyber Security importance among high-level governmental officials, private sector representatives and the society at large. Our distinguished panel of keynote speakers will bring a diverse set of insights on different advancements on IT initiatives around the world.

The purpose of the award ceremony is to credit governmental and private entities for good work and best practices and encourage them and others to invest their time and energy in further development of the IT field.