Dubai, Nov.19th, 2006 (WAM) -- Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) officialsannounced today at GITEX 2006 that Europe?s Optical Disc Group and SolarTechnologies Group will invest AED 112 million in the technology freezone.

The activities include Research and Development, Optical MediaTraining and Support Centre as well as manufacturing the next generationoptical media products, solar cells, solar panels and tempered glass usedin photovoltaic and the building industry.

This will be the first facility of its kind in the Middle Eastand will generate skilled jobs for over 200 people. The facility is expectedto open end-2007.

Optical Disc Group is a leading supplier of equipment and technologyfor the optical media industry. The company offers turn-key solutionsfor the manufacturing of all formats of optical media such as CDs, DVDs(including HD DVDs) and glass mastering. The company already has beenoperating from Dubai Airport Free Zone offering spare parts and technicalservice for the entire region.

Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak, Deputy CEO, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authoritysaid "The optical media industry in the Middle East has grown at a rapidpace in the past five years, precipitating the need to develop researchand development centres in the region that will design integrated opticaldisc solutions for the Middle East region and beyond." The agreement between the companies also includes investment inthe solar energy sector. Solar Technologies Group will set up a processingcentre for production of photovoltaic components, solar cells and panels.

Solar energy can be converted directly or indirectly into other formsof energy, such as heat and electricity through the photovoltaic process.

"Solar energy is the future of creating clean and environmentally-friendlyenergy. Many countries around the world have adopted this technology fornumerous commercial, industrial, government, and domestic applications.

Our agreement with Solar Technologies Group will oversee the developmentof this important industry in the Middle East," added Abdul Razak.

A complimentary activity to the photovoltaic products will beto temper glass for the building industry. The factory will be equippedwith sophisticated CNC equipment supplied by the world?s leading manufacturerLisec from Austria and Tamglass from Finland. The products manufacturedwill be insulated glass units, tempered and heat-strengthened glass aswell as laminated glass to meet with European standards to be suppliedto local market as well as to meet demand in neighbouring countries. Thefacilities will also develop new products which meet the demand in hotclimate countries like the Middle East.

DSO is the region?s number one integrated innovations hub forhigh-tech industries. It is a wholly-owned entity of the government ofDubai, operating as a free zone technology park for semiconductors, microelectronics and other electronic-based companies looking to set uptheir regional headquarters and R&D divisions.