Since the 80's the name of Sakhr's founder has been the one associated with taking Arab culture into the IT era

The Arab World has the capabilities necessary to bridge any knowledge, technological or cultural gap; be it extensive resources, competence or deep-rooted heritage. Arab in-depth understanding of the technologies of the era, adopting the correct approach appropriate to their particular culture, and creating ways to overcome communication obstacles with other cultures and technologies are key to supporting Arab culture in this era of rapidly advancing technology.

1 December 2004:

"Arab participation, planning and technological achievements in the programming industry, are issues of no less importance than securing nutrition, social security and obligatory education for all. Indeed, the issue of technological advancement is as important as national security and the right to protect our own identity. We have at our finger tips a real opportunity to ride the ever changing waves of social advancement in the information era; an opportunity which will allow us to surf with the best, and even to influence global technological trends. Should we choose to ignore this responsibility, then not only would we be sacrificing a golden chance at catching-up with the technologically advanced world, but we would also be condemning ourselves to be forever a nation of followers," commented Mohammed Al Sharekh, President, Sakhr Software Co.

Al Sharekh made this statement upon the announcement made by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Head of the Arab Thought Foundation, that the Marrakech Conference this year will honor Mohammed A. Al Sharekh, President, Sakhr Software Co.

It is worth mentioning that Al Sharekh launched Sakhr Software Co. in 1982 as part of Al Alamiah Group, which has developed numerous exceptional technologies that have left a strong impression in the field of Arab IT industry. The company took upon its shoulders the task of carrying out studies and developmental projects for over 2 decades in an effort to mould computer and communication technologies to meet the demands of the linguistic uniqueness of Arabic. These efforts have resulted in the development of Sakhr's NLP, leaving Sakhr today unchallenged as a global pioneer in the development of Arabic language solutions and products.

Al-Sharekh's will accept the Arab Thought Award, an award dedicated to pioneering theorists, during the events of the foundation's third conference due to commence today in Marrakech, Morocco, under the patronage of H.H. King Mohammed VI under the theme: "Arabs; between the culture of change and cultural changes," and with the attendance and participation of over 1000 scholars, theorists, businessmen and diplomats.

"We have no doubt that we as Arabs have everything it takes to bridge this gap; be it our resources, our capabilities or our culture. We have realized from the onset that the issue is very closely linked to cultural and social aspects. We cannot standby, hands bound, waiting for solutions to come to us from the outside. We must take the initiative to build our own solutions, solutions which can ensure that our rich cultural heritage can keep up with the fast changing world of technology. And because technological advancement necessitates that we also develop management and economic systems, in addition to developing scientific research, we at Sakhr have established a unique unit in the Arab World, one which specializes in research related to the technological treatment of language. The fruit of this research was the creation of the unique NLP technology which is the foundation of all our applications and solutions. This technology has realized great success and is widespread both in the Arab World and internationally," Al Sharekh commented. He added, "Sakhr began its path since the early 80's with the aim of keeping pace with the IT era. At Sakhr we have mapped our plans based on very detailed considerations of current situations, and detailed analysis of the needs of the various sectors of the community and their demands on the IT industry. Our efforts are the result of in-depth awareness and strong belief that we must not stand with our heads bowed before ready-made solutions."

"Deep-rooted and comprehensive awareness are key to implement change, reform and to initiate constructive discussions. Arab theorists have the knowledge, the foresight and the ability to crystallize a clear vision to contribute to the overall development efforts of our nation," commented the organizing committee.

This specialized award for pioneering theorists is seen as recognition of the recipient's contribution to rising the nation's ability to ensure that Arab culture is a forerunner in the information era. It also represents recognition of the recipient's positive efforts towards the nation's future, and in establishing and driving the IT industry forward. Since the beginning of the 70's of the past century, when the technological industry first made its appearance in the Arab world, Sakhr was there with the invention of the Arabic language computer, and has continued its path with the development of Arabic language applications, reaching international horizons with its innovative software and solutions.

It is notable that the Arab Thought Foundation, headed by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, is a collaborative effort of thought and funds with the aim of elevating the Arab nation. In its two earlier sessions, the Foundation previously honored: pioneering Arab theorists and creative personalities such as: Edward Saeed for pioneering thought, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science for its ground-breaking scientific work, Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Jathami for literary achievements, Fadwa Touqan for her exceptional poetry, Dr. Yonan Labeeb Rizik for achievements in the field of history, Mohammed bin Issa, Moroccan Foreign Minster, the Palestinian artist Ismail Abdul Qader Shamout and the Lebanese author George Jerdak.

-Ends-

About Sakhr:
www.sakhr.com
Sakhr Software Company was founded in Kuwait in 1982, and was relocated in Cairo in 1990.

A leading Arabic software Co., Sakhr develops software specifically tailored to the needs of the Arabic market and Arabic language users. It has developed cutting-edge technologies that have had a strong impact on the Arabic IT industry. The company has also pioneered a new generation of Arabic Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies.

Sakhr opened its branch in the UAAE in 2001, at the Dubai Internet City.

Sakhr's list of clients includes giant IT companies such as Intel, Oracle, LG, Tejari.com & other major international & regional companies, governments, ministries & central banks.

For more information, please visit
Sakhr Software's website http://www.sakhr.com or contact the Media Department at media@sakhr.ae
Tel: +971 4 391 1555
Fax : +9714 390 4430

© Press Release 2004