Director General of the Emirates e-Government Salem Khamis Al Shair Al Suwaidi on Wednesday opened the Solar Investment Summit - Middle East 2011 at Hotel Novotel World Trade Centre. In his keynote address, he stressed the importance of utilising solar energy in times when some of the primary energy resources such as oil, coal and natural gas are depleting. He said, "We all know the power and utility of the sun''s rays and it is our responsibility to not waste it. The UAE is blessed with sunshine all year round and for most hours of the day. We must focus on harnessing this energy and look at how the modern technology can aid us in doing so," he said. For his part, WAM news agency quoted Yassir Jamil, the General Manager of the Dask Tech company which organizes the summit as saying that the event is the first ever arab event being held in the region on investment in solar energy in the Middle East, where experts of solar energy and the government sector and the private sector are gathering here for the first time in addition to other financial sector officials. The two-day conference aims to focus on finding ways to tap solar energy as an alternate resource of energy in the years to come. The conference will discuss various topics related to solar energy harnessing such as market conditions, political situation and legal framework, technology and plants and education and training for the same. Participants at the conference include private investors, project developers, energy suppliers, R''&''D Institutes and trade associations among others. Emirates e-Government works in line with the strategy of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and is responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of the e-Government strategy on the federal level, ensuring robust shared infrastructure for federal government entities, and enhanced government services.