BETHESDA, MD, December 14, 2001 - World Economic Forum Founder and President, Klaus Schwab recently announced the selection of Rebecca Enonchong, Chief Executive Officer of AppsTechä, as one of this year's distinguished 100 young leaders for the Foundation's annual Global Leaders for Tomorrow (GLT) program's class of 2002. Enonchong is the first Cameroonian, as well as one of the few Africans, ever to receive this distinguished title honoring individuals who have achieved a position of considerable influence and responsibility in the world.

Enonchong joins a select group of leaders from the arenas of business, politics, public interest groups, the news media, the arts and the sciences. Past technology honorees have included Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos and Akamai Technologies President Paul Sagan. Among those who also received the prestigious GLT designation this year were Apple Computers Inc. Senior Director Tony Blevins, Cisco Systems Chief Strategy Officer Michelangelo Volpi and Google founder and Chief Executive Officer, Larry Page.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by the World Economic Forum," said Enonchong of her selection. "The fact that the projects and relationships developed through the organization help to ensure that the corporations that are leading the global economy are responsible citizens of the world, makes this nomination very significant for me on a personal and professional level. As an African, this nomination also serves to reinforce my ever-present goal, as well as personal commitment, in helping to ensure that Africa is not left out of this new economy." 

Enonchong founded AppsTechä, a leading provider of e-business applications solutions to corporations and governments worldwide, after fourteen years of experience in Consulting and Finance. A native of Cameroon, Enonchong has devoted much of her life to promoting African interests, both in Africa and in the U.S. She is founder and Chairman of the Africa Technology Forum (www.africatechforum.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting technology in Africa. 

Enonchong has been featured in several leading newspapers and magazines including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, InformationWeek and Computer World and has appeared on both CNN and CNNfn. She is also the recipient of the 2001 African Entrepreneurship Award, an initiative of Enterprise Africa that seeks to recognize and celebrate African entrepreneurial excellence. 

About AppsTech
Based in Bethesda, MD, AppsTechä, is a leading global ASP (Application Service Provider) and supplier of full service e-business application solutions, offering complete application implementation services, outsourcing, hosting, support and training for top-tier enterprise systems. AppsTech is committed to helping organizations thrive by rapidly deploying cost-effective, flexible, robust and reliable enterprise software solutions that meet their customer-specific needs.


About the Global Leaders of Tomorrow (GLT) Program
The GLT initiative was started in 1993 to provide an informal, efficient framework for an ongoing exchange of opinions on strategic issues of concern to the younger generation of decision-makers as part of the World Economic Forum's commitment to building partnerships between business and society to improve the state of the world.

The community of GLTs represents a dynamic group of nearly 600 individuals from 100 countries around the world. The class of 2002 represents the new generation of global leaders from business, government, politics and civil society that have demonstrated responsible leadership and commitment in addressing issues beyond their immediate professional interest vis-à-vis society, the environment and socially responsible business. 

Each year members, constituents and collaborators of the World Economic Forum nominate 100 new GLTs. The successful candidates must:

• be younger than 37in the year of their nomination;

• have achieved a position of considerable influence and responsibility;

• have shown commitment to public affairs;

• have demonstrated leadership in addressing issues beyond their immediate professional interest;

• have demonstrated commitment to the principles and objectives that guide the World Economic Forum.

Active task forces and initiatives that have grown out of the GLT activities range from environmental sustainability, the changing face of healthcare and the future of Europe to the prospects of leadership and service, and the social impact of new technology.

The first gathering of the class of 2002 is scheduled to be held during the next Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in New York. 


About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world. Funded by the contributions of 1,000 of the world's foremost corporations, the Forum acts in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest to further economic growth and social progress. The Forum serves its members and society by creating partnerships between business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society to define, discuss and advance key issues on the global agenda. 

Incorporated in 1971 as a foundation, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit, and is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. In 1995 the Forum was awarded NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.