Employing a large staff of highly qualified professionals with expertise in software, database, networking and hardware, Diwan-Raqueam will not only supply the local Iraqi market but provide world-class software and services to the international IT industry.

"Iraq has a pool of some of the most competent and motivated experts in the whole of the Middle East." said Adil Allawi, Diwan's Technical Director. "Diwan's Baghdad office is harnessing this ability to create an Iraqi company that will compete not only in Iraq but in the world market as well. Diwan-Raqueam is already providing software and services inside Iraq to the highest international standards. An important part of the future work of Diwan-Raqueam will be research and development to create innovative solutions based on new technologies."

Ahmed Kharrufa, Technical Director of Diwan-Raqueam, added "With the type of programming skills that exist in Iraq, and now that Iraq has opened to the world, I believe Iraq will be the new software development center in the region and Diwan-Raqueam will be at the forefront of this revolution".

Already Diwan-Raqueam has under its belt several successes. It has provided publishing software and systems to a number of the quality newspapers in Iraq and is a pioneer in the new Internet technology industry having supplied and installed over 30 new satellite Internet systems all over Iraq.

The expertise also extends to the area of design and language. Diwan-Raqueam created Diwan's Mishafi typeface. One of the most complex Arabic fonts ever developed, Mishafi won a prestigious award from the New York based Type Directors Club. Diwan-Raqueam also employs some of the most qualified experts in Arabic language, calligraphy and design.

Diwan-Raqueam offers a wide range of services and products to its customers. It is the wish of the company to help bring new technologies and specially Internet technology into Iraq. The company is also willing to help other international IT organizations (for software and/or hardware) enter the Iraqi market, and thus offers to cooperate with such organizations in any way possible to achieve this goal.

The company has the advantage of having an established office in Baghdad with a large staff of highly qualified professionals. All of its staff are Iraqis (living in the country) to ensure stable operation for the company. Also the company has many people working under contract for tasks requiring a large number of human resources like data processing and entry.

The types of possible cooperation include:

Joined-ventures and specially for long term software projects development.
Dealerships for the supply of hardware related to the IT industry.
As coordinators between companies abroad and customers in Iraq.

Diwan-Raqueam also has all the necessary capital and resources for joint ventures and all other forms of cooperation. Gitex 2003 (19th October - 23rd October) will be an ideal opportunity for meeting interested parties. Diwan would be pleased to answer all inquiries.

For more information see the Diwan-Raqueam web site http://www.alraqueam.com.

Press Contacts:
Adil Allawi
Technical Director
Diwan Software Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7 25 25 333
Fax: +44 (0)20 7 25 25 444
email: info@diwan.com

Maan Stipho
Diwan-Raqueam
Karrada, Baghdad
Tel: +9641 778 1157
Fax: + 9641 778 6515
email: info@alraqueam.com

About Diwan Software Limited:

Based in London, England; Dubai Internet City, UAE; Amman, Jordan and now Baghdad, Iraq, Diwan Software Limited pioneered the use of Arabic on the computer. Throughout its 19 year history Diwan has always supplied the highest quality computer software for the Arabic and international markets. Diwan was the main consultant to Apple Computer for the Arabic Macintosh and to Siemens for their Arabic and Thai mobile phones. Diwan manufactures and sells the high-end Desktop Publishing applications Ready,Set,Go! and the award-winning al-Nashir al-Sahafi which have significant markets in the US and Middle East. Diwan is also sells one of the largest library of quality of Arabic typefaces including the"Diwan-Mishafi" font that won an award of excellence from the Type Directors Club. Diwan has gone on to provide content management and Internet publishing solutions.

©2003 Diwan Software Ltd. All Rights Reserved.