When asked about IT outsourcing in Lebanon, Nicolas Nehme replied: “From experience, it’s not difficult to produce, but it is to sell because the local market is small. If you want to export your services abroad, the competition is tough because Lebanon doesn’t have the ‘brand image’ or ‘label’ of being a software developer like India or Ireland do. You can’t compete unless you have real added value or talent. While Lebanon is cheaper than Europe, it is not the cheapest place and there are many other countries with outsourcing. Also we need to have commitment and can’t say that we can’t work today because of a protest etc. We always have to produce. It’s hard to go to a Western country to sell a product without certain affiliations or partnerships because we still have a long way to go to create credibility but many foreign companies do come and set themselves up here. The biggest problem to outsourcing is our “brand image’ or ‘label’. We lack government support and the political situation hasn’t been helping. But we do have talents, know-how and potential. If the government would build a Beirut Technology Zone like Dubai Internet City it would help boost the market and would significantly contribute to establishing a ‘brand image’.”