Cisco to Launch Mediterranean Youth Technology Club (MYTecC) and the Digital Cities Project Aimed at Long Term Economic

NAZARETH, ISRAEL, Jan 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
In the presence of Mr Shimon Peres, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) chairman and CEO,
John Chambers, today inaugurated the MYTecC project, an education initiative
aimed at giving ninth and tenth grade pupils from the Mediterranean region the
skills needed for them to become future business and social leaders.

Cisco also today announced a $2 million investment to support The Digital
Cities
project, which includes more than 20 different projects aimed at improving
relations between Israeli Jews and Arabs in the cities of Nazareth and
Nazareth Illit, whilst promoting economic development and social change in
healthcare, tourism, education and civil services primarily through the use of
Internet technologies and education. The two Nazareth's are situated on
either side of the Israeli and West Bank border.

Through technology and Web 2.0, young people will communicate with one
another, share ideas and create a dialog whilst learning the English language,
IT
and leadership skills, tooling them to become responsible leaders of the future.
Cisco previously committed $500,000 to support the MYTecC programe.

With participants from Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the Palestinian
Authority,
Portugal, Turkey and Yemen, MYTecC is developed in partnership with the ICTDAR
(ICT
for Development in the Arab Region) a regional program for the United Nations
Development Programe (UNDP) Teachers without Borders, The Peres Centre for Peace
and Cisco.

Zika Abzuk, Public Benefit Investment manager for Cisco in Europe and
Emerging Markets, says, "Through MYTecC we are leveling the playing field,
enabling kids from underserved communities in the different countries to
become citizens of the world -- so when they grow up and becomes business
leaders
in their countries they will have people in the region who they trust to do
business with."

Upon successful completion of the programe, students will receive a
professional certification that allows them to access the job market or
progress to more study and training. The intent is to nurture a sense of
caring for self, the community and the region as a whole. MYTecC has been
developed based on the success of the Net@ programe in Israel which currently
has over 2000 participating students in 24 towns around Israel.

During his first visit to Israel, Chambers met with leading figures in the
Israeli government and industry where he discussed Israel's key role in
hi-tech and innovation and the importance of public and private partnerships in
enabling social change.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms
how
people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be
found at www.Cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
newsroom.Cisco.com. Cisco equipment in the Middle East is supplied by
Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks
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