Arab Regional ISPs & DSPs Association (ARISPA), an independent non-profit organization aimed at supporting and enhancing the internet industry in the Arab world and listed among the Associations of Arab Economy Union of the Arab League, announced its intention to enhance the representation of Arab internet industry on a global scale by supporting Eng. Fahad AL Shirawy, ARISPA’s board member and CEO of 2Connect in Bahrain, to be nominated for RIPE’s board membership to represent Arab internet industry on a global level.

The association has recently invited ISPs and DSPs in the Arab countries to delegate Eng. Mohammed Firas Bakkour, ARISPA’s Chairman, to attend RIPE’s General Meeting on behalf of them and vote for Eng. Fahad AL Shirawy to get RIPE’s board membership.

“This move comes in tandem with ARISPA’s vision and goals to take essential part in representing ISPs and DSPs in Arab countries on a global scale and to play a vital role in making international decisions related to this evolving and important industry,” said Eng. Mohammed Firas Bakkour, Chairman of ARISPA.

The RIPE NCC General Meeting (GM) May 2008 will be held on Wednesday, 7 May 2008, adjacent to the RIPE 56 Meeting, which takes place from 5-9 May 2008 at the Hotel Palace in Berlin, Germany, where Internet service providers, network operators and other interested parties from Europe and the surrounding regions gather. RIPE Meetings are open to everyone and provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to discuss Internet policy.

“This initiative represents the first step for ARISPA towards enhancing the Arab presence in specialized international organizations that definitely will play an essential role in making the Arab involvement more effective in making decisions related to Internet industry.” He added.

Arab Regional ISPs & DSPs Association (ARISPA) was announced in 2004. It has become an official association upon its official listing among the Associations of Arab Economy Union of the Arab League in September 2006. The Association has got 15 members from 7 countries, representing a number of leading ISPs in the Arab world. The association quite realizes the great significance of internet and information technology, and is completely aware of the huge impact of these two on the development and improvement of business, education and trading, as well as many other industries. The non-profit organization pays great efforts to transform internet industry in Arab countries from consuming into productive and main player in Arab national economy.