SECURING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
TBY talks to Hisham Itani, Chairman & CEO of RGH Holding, on digital security and cybersecurity offerings and how RGH has transformed government and private sector operations alike.
BIOGRAPHY
While completing his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut, Hisham Itani was already immersed in his family’s printing business. He strove to add new technologies ahead of demand, and investment in R&D led to cutting-edge, globally competitive solutions. He took the security printing business to another level and expanded into different technology verticals. Itani established companies that are serving over 50 countries in more than 10 industries. He is now Chairman and CEO of RGH Holding.RGH is a dynamic investment group with a broad portfolio of businesses. How would you evaluate RGH's operations over recent years?
Over the last few years at RGH, and in light of the digital era, we have made it a key mission to focus even more on our IT and R&D backlog. The company has consolidated its operations around IT, security, and R&D areas, enhancing our relationships with our clients as well as our ability to respond to their needs. The development of technology in recent years has allowed us to be extremely responsive to our clients more than ever before, especially those that are in need of major digital transformations. Various government agencies in our part of the world lag behind international standards and are a little more prone to security problems and issues arising from the digitalization of governmental processes. Many government agencies are still paper-based and lack automation, which makes the lifecycle of their processes and operations much harder than they should be. Inevitably, it also negatively impacts transparency and citizen services. The best way to level this process is to utilize the technology at our disposal in order to ensure systems operate more efficiently, and hence more effectively, and in turn greatly improve the end user's experience.
What role does RGH play in the automation processes of the government?
RGH plays a central role in automating governmental processes. The implementation of biometric passports is one of multiple projects that we have already completed at a local level. This initiative helped elevate Lebanon's image as international partners and citizens recognized that Lebanon was beginning to adopt the most advanced anti-fraud standards. The government can now combat terrorism and other illegal activities more effectively. This will most definitely constitute a solid platform on which the government and its agencies can build upon, creating more elaborate systems in the future. Other automation projects include biometric and electronic solutions for residence permits, work permits, driving licenses, vehicle registration cards, secure plates, and RFID stickers. This helps the government control, securitize, and electronically manage different areas of activity. This also accelerates the transition towards e-government, where digital security is a basic requirement.
What portion of your revenue is derived from the public sector?
The split is 70-30, with 70% being derived from the public sector. We are at almost 50-60% export as well. We export our services to the Gulf, though our real stronghold is sub-Saharan Africa. We are present in nine countries in that area of the world and service similar projects. We in fact started in sub-Saharan Africa in the early 2000s and then we returned to Lebanon to expand our operations here in 2013.
What are RGH's services and initiatives for digital security?
Our main offering to governments and the private sector is the ability to authenticate and identify their virtual clients, because in any digital transaction the question of identification is extremely vital. Governments and companies need to know how to ensure that a given activity or transaction is, in fact, being completed by the person in question. Authentication is a major obstacle and a major cornerstone of e-government, digital security, and digital transactions. This is where we focus our product offering and we complement this offering with a robust cyber security solution. We started developing the latter through our telecom division, which was established in 2009, and we position it as a regional integrator of choice. The operations of both subsidiaries (digital security and cybersecurity) go hand-in-hand with one another, and we are focused on providing solutions that fulfill both needs. By operating in an area that represents such a key meeting point for technologies, we are able to provide an invaluable service to governments and private firms alike.
SECURING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
HE General Michel Aoun, President, Republic of Lebanon
TBY talks to HE General Michel Aoun, President of the Republic of Lebanon, on reinvigorating and renewing the national pact, the importance of the economic planning for growth and stability, and building a more inclusive citizenship.
read articleGuest Speaker
Nicos Anastasiades, President, Republic of Cyprus
TBY talks to Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, on the ancient ties that bind Cyprus and Lebanon, the importance of recent and future offshore energy discoveries for bilateral relations, and the importance of working together to combat common security and political problems.
read articleFocus: Regional Relations
On Good Terms
Looking to restore Lebanon's reputation as a credible mediator, stem the flow of refugees, and restart the flow of money, Lebanon's President Aoun takes a tour, following Lebanon's old money trails in hopes of sparking exchange with the Gulf states and bonding over shared concerns.
read articleGuest Speaker
Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister , Spain
TBY talks to Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain, on the Spanish contribution to UNIFIL in the south of Lebanon, the powerful cultural proclivities between the two countries, and Spain's proven long-term commitments to the safety and prosperity of Lebanon.
read articleGuest Speaker
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Foreign Affairs , South Africa
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, on working together with Lebanon to forge broader regional peace, strengthening over century-long ties, and working in tandem with South Africa's sizeable Lebanese diaspora to boost commercial ties between the two.
read articleInterview
Gebran Bassil, Minister, Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
TBY talks to Gebran Bassil, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, on the critical importance of reintegrating the Lebanese diaspora, the country's oil and gas bid, and bringing some semblance of normalcy back to the region.
read articleInterview
Dr. Fouad Zmokhol, President, Association of Lebanese Business People in the World (RDCL World)
TBY talks to Dr. Fouad Zmokhol, President of the Association of Lebanese Business People in the World (RDCL World), on the resilience of Lebanese entrepreneurship and the importance of small and medium-sized businesses for meeting the challenges of the future.
read articleInterview
Salim Zeenni, Chairman, American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)
TBY talks to Salim Zeenni, Chairman of American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), on initiatives to bring Lebanese start-up culture to the world, how to advocate on behalf of SMEs, and sectors driving the Lebanese economy forward.
read articleInterview
Nabil A. Itani, Chairman, Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL)
TBY talks to Nabil A. Itani, Chairman of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), on increasing Lebanon's short-term investment flows, tapping into the diaspora, and bolstering the country's vibrant start-up community to bring long-term prosperity.
read articleInterview
Aziz Torbey, Founder , Eptalex
TBY talks to Aziz Torbey, Founder of Eptalex, Aziz Torbey Law Firm, on the long-term structural advantages of working in Lebanon, important moves the state is taking to improve the regulatory framework, and how the merger with Eptalex has revitalized the firm's global operations.
read articleInterview
Tarek Mohamad El Khati, Minister, Environment
TBY talks to Tarek Mohamad El Khatib, Minister of Environment, on boosting renewables in Lebanon, working with municipalities to maximize waste management efficiency, and dealing with the environmental fallout of the crisis in Syria.
read articleInterview
Jamal Itani, Mayor, Beirut
TBY talks to Jamal Itani, Mayor of Beirut, Municipal Council of Beirut, on using the latest technology to solve the waste management fiasco, employing the latest environmental standards to reduce Beirut's carbon footprint, and making the city far greener and more pedestrian friendly.
read articleInterview
Dr. Riad T. Salameh, Governor, Banque du Liban (BDL)
TBY talks to Dr. Riad T. Salameh, Governor of Banque du Liban (BDL), on employing swap operations to reverse deleterious trends of the past five years, strengthening the central bank's foreign currency reserves, and bolstering the knowledge economy in the long term.
read articleInterview
Freddie C. Baz, Group Strategy Director, Bank Audi
TBY talks to Freddie C. Baz, Group Strategy Director of Bank Audi, on the importance of Turkey and Egypt to Audi's portfolio, venturing into Africa and Latin America, and leading by example in corporate governance and risk management.
read articleInterview
Antoun Sehnaoui, Chairman & CEO, SGBL
TBY talks to Antoun Sehnaoui, Chairman & CEO of SGBL, on supporting the bedrock of the Lebanese economy, SMEs, the group's ambitious expansion efforts across the region, and how to continuously deploy the most advanced information platforms.
read articleInterview
Dr. Ghaleb Mahmassani, Vice-President , Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE)
TBY talks to Dr. Ghaleb Mahmassani, Vice-President of the Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE), on the pace of the privatization of the BSE, the sharp increase in trading movement in 2016, and how to change the business culture in Lebanon for the better.
read articleInterview
Max. R. Zaccar, President, Association of Insurance Companies
TBY talks to Max. R. Zaccar, President of the Association of Insurance Companies, on the importance of insurance to the entire financial infrastructure, opportunities in Syria and Iran, and the need to educate the public on the importance of the industry.
read articleReview
Never let a post-crisis go to waste
Having seen off their domestic foes—for now—the energy initiatives being championed by President Aoun and Foreign Minister Bassil will need more than patience and cunning to see off the threat to eastern Mediterranean drilling rights from Israel.
read articleInterview
Cesar Abi Khalil, Minister, Energy & Water
TBY talks to Cesar Abi Khalil, Minister of Energy & Water, on boosting the percentage of renewables to 12%, implementing an ambitious set of energy-efficiency reforms for 2016-2020, and using public sector buildings as an important pilot for doing so.
read articleInterview
Hisham Itani, Chairman & CEO, RGH Holding
TBY talks to Hisham Itani, Chairman & CEO of <a href="http://www.rgh.com.lb/rgh/en/home#&panel1-1">RGH Holding</a>, on digital security and cybersecurity offerings and how RGH has transformed government and private sector operations alike.
read articleInterview
Dr. Hassan El Solh, Medical Center Director & Chief Medical Officer, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC)
TBY talks to Dr. Hassan El Solh, Medical Center Director & Chief Medical Officer of American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), on the center's expanding infrastructure and patient services, upgrades in technology, and development of specialties and centers of excellence.
read articleInterview
Mohamad Chehabeddine, Director General , Civil Aviation of Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport
TBY talks to Mohamad Chehabeddine, Director General of Civil Aviation of Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, on the airport's terminal expansion and security enhancements to attract more travelers to the Paris of the East.
read articleInterview
Michel Pharaon, Minister, State for Planning Affairs
TBY talks to Michel Pharaon, Minister of State for Planning Affairs, on the structure of the ministry, public-private partnerships, and both the opportunities for growth and challenges in Lebanon's current political climate.
read article