Technology major Hewlett-Packard Co. wants a very development role in the technology evolution of the region. While the company says business is important, its collaborations and other market initiatives have been focused on building interaction at a governmental level rather than being a case for it to sell its technology. With the Middle East countries now looking for synergies across the region and markets, HP Middle East Managing Director Joseph Hanania talks to CNME on the role technology plays in an evolving market.

CNME: In what manner has HP Middle East engaged countries and governments in this region?

Hanania: First of all in an evolving economy, technology plays an infrastructural role. Both countries and governments must keep this in mind and specifically understand that consolidating a heterogenous environment is important. In the countries across the Middle East, HP is engaged to define these very infrastructure needs and put into an enabling framework. It?s important for the region to create a sustainable model and framework if it wants technology to mesh in closely with real life issues.

CNME: Education, technology and infrastructure need to mesh in as well isn?t it?

Hanania: Very much so. First of all education is all about making countries aware that they can transform the way they interact within their system using technology. We are engaged in enabling this across including countries like Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi and Egypt. Secondly security and technology infrastructure need to scale from end to end, which means that a project initiated using technology must also be completed enabled by technology. Governments need to begin looking at citizens as customers using their service. If they take that view, then they will be able to judge how far a consolidated infrastructure can take them. Today in most countries the knowledge and information is locked away in silos. We need to set this information free and allow it to be pulled when needed. In my understanding, governments need to get more aggressive on that. What is mostly seen is more information gathering. True back end consolidation still needs to happen.

CNME: How exactly will HP play a role in enabling this infrastructure?

Hanania: Our model is more an enabling one. We believe that our expertise and global know-how is our greatest advantage for this region. So our involvement starts right in the beginning where we can provide the building blocks, the strategy and expertise to lead the project.

CNME: Do you want to pursue a Centre of Excellence model?

Hanania: What we have here in Dubai is the HP Invent Centre. The only other center of this nature in this region is in Geneva. The Invent Centre takes a close look at issues faced by specific groups from a business point of view. We are then in a position to help them reach a solution together with expert technology help from HP. The important thing in this approach is that we help a person or a situation move from one stage to the next. This is similar when we talk of emerging economies and technology markets like the Middle East.

CNME: The UAE is currently trying to build up its technology market for large scale investment. Any comments you can offer?

Hanania: First of all I think that the UAE government is beginning to think of the right components to include into its master plan. But this is a young economy and more importantly it needs to establish a precedent of having done something exceptionally well if it has to compete with other economies, especially in technology related foreign investment. Specialization is very important. There should be a benchmarking infrastructure in place, compliance frameworks and the country should look at technology as the enabling framework.