NABEUL - The first phase of the International Webdesign Festival "WIF 2010" (production of digital software and websites development), held by the Tunisian Association of Digital Solidarity of Nabeul in co-operation with the regional council of the Governorate of Nabeul, started Saturday in Tunis.
The festival's agenda includes a contest of website design and production of digital content (webjam), with the participation of 104 competitors shared out in 36 teams.
The contest theme is " Solidarity-Based Communication through the Internet." It will continue for 24 hours without interruption.
The winning team will represent Tunisia in the final phase of the festival to be held in Limoges, France from June 3 to 6, 2010.
An exhibition of digital products and training workshops in the areas of electronic certification, computer security and software were organised with the participation of experts from Tunisia and abroad, on the sidelines of the festival held in Nabeul.
Minister of Communication Technologies Mohamed Naceur Ammar said this event reflects the dynamics experienced by active associations in the area of information and communication technologies which seek to spread digital culture in different regions of the country, stressing the interest that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali takes in these structures.
He reviewed the incentives granted by the State to consolidate the role of the components of civil society in disseminating digital culture.
Mr. Ammar pointed out that the presidential programme " Together, We Meet Challenges" lays the foundations for a new stage marked by excellence and opens broad prospects for setting up the information society by developing digital contents and e-services in the administrative, economic, cultural and social areas.
The development of websites and digital contents has a priority, the Minister highlighted, announcing in this regard the simplification of procedures for opening and reservation of the Tunisian domain name ".tn."
The Minister also recalled the creation of the Prize of the President of the Republic of Digital Excellence granted to companies and associations to encourage them to promote e-products and services in the administrative, educational, cultural, IT and commercial services.
The next stage will see the completion of different technical measures to launch Tunisian sites with Arab Internet domain names ".tn" after the adoption of the ICANN system specialised in multilingual domain names, the Minister said.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
