Dear Amin, Thank you for your email. I wish you all success in preparing for ICANN82. Here are some suggestions to help shape the session effectively. *Potential Speakers (List to select from)* For an insightful discussion, I believe in inviting speakers from within ICANN as well as external experts who have experience in previous rounds of the new gTLD Program. 1. ICANN Staff and ASP Experts - *Baher Esmat,* ICANN VP for stakeholder engagement in the Middle East. He could offer perspectives on outreach and regional support for applicants. - *Karen Lentz,* VP Policy Research & Stakeholder Programs. I guess she can oversee gTLD policy implementation and may have deep knowledge of the ASP and new gTLD processes. - *Xavier Calvez,* ICANN’s CFO. He can provide insights into the financial aspects of ASP. 2. Community and Former new gTLDs Applicants - *Charles Shaban,* The International Trademark Association (INTA). I think hearing from past applicants/registrars/operators, who have gone through the process (successful or not), would provide valuable real-world insights. - It is also a good idea if there is a speaker from the At-Large Community *who* *has been involved in discussions around supporting underserved communities* in gTLD applications. 3. Regional Experts & Business/Tech/Government Representatives - *Fuad Bajwa* - *Layal Jebran* - *Ibrahim Al mawali* MEAC representatives who can highlight the specific challenges in the Middle East. *Session Description & Agenda* *Session Title Suggestion:* “Bridging the Digital Divide: The ICANN Applicant Support Program & Opportunities for Middle East Entrepreneurs” *Session Description:* This session will explore ICANN’s Applicant Support Program (ASP) as a key opportunity for individuals, businesses, and organisations in the Middle East to apply for and operate a new gTLD. Given the financial and technical challenges associated with gTLD applications, the ASP aims to enable participation from under-represented regions. The discussion will provide insights into eligibility criteria, the application process, and lessons learnt from previous rounds. It will also highlight potential opportunities and challenges for Middle East-based applicants in the upcoming New gTLD Program: Next Round. *Session Agenda:* 1. Welcome & Introduction (5 min): Overview of the session objectives. 2. Understanding the ASP (15 min): ICANN staff present the goals, eligibility, and mechanics of the program. 3. Insights from the Community (10 min): Past applicants or At-Large/ALAC perspectives on barriers to entry and possible improvements. 4. Panel Discussion, Opportunities & Challenges in the Middle East (20 min): Panellists discuss how ASP can benefit the region, success stories, and what support is needed. 5. Q&A and Next Steps (10 min): Open discussion with the audience on how regional stakeholders can prepare for the next round. Best regards. Abdulrahman Abotaleb On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM Amin Hacha via Middle-East < middle-east@icann.org> wrote:

Dear ICANN Middle East Community,

I hope this email finds you well.

As we prepare for the upcoming ME SPACE session at ICANN82 in Seattle, we would like to update you on the next steps.

Based on the feedback we’ve received so far, it appears that there is more interest in further exploring the "Applicant Support Program" topic. Therefore, we plan to focus on this subject during the session, following the latest update related to this subject.

To ensure the session meets the needs of the community, we kindly request your input in finalizing the agenda. Specifically, we would appreciate your suggestions regarding:

1. *Potential speakers*: Are there any individuals you believe would be valuable contributors to this session? 2. *Session description*: Please share any recommendations on how to best describe and frame the session's topic and the session agenda.

Your feedback is important to us, and we ask that you please provide any responses or questions by *Sunday, February 9, 2025*.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best regards, ME Space Co-Chairs _______________________________________________ Middle-East mailing list -- middle-east@icann.org To unsubscribe send an email to middle-east-leave@icann.org

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