Welcome Message         On behalf of the Organizing Committee, It is my great pleasure to invite you to attend the 6th Arab Map conference to be held on September 12-13, 2005 in Cairo. The Arab Map aims at, first, helping to share successful regional and international experiences in GIS and to help in consolidating regional and international cooperation between participating organizations. The 6th Arab Map conference announces "Towards Improved Governance and a Better Environment" as an over arching theme. The main objective of the conference is to disseminate information about how GIS can help in achieving a better living conditions by improving governance at the regional, national and local levels, decentralizing the decision making process by emphasizing subsidiary of and participation in decision making. This theme is reflected in various conference sessions. Furthermore, the Arab Map seeks to create a platform for GIS organizations in the region to bring them together in partnership. A long time ago, the French philosopher, Ernest Dimnet (c. 1866-1954), wrote: "Too often we forget that genius, too, depends upon the data within its reach, that even Archimedes could not have devised Edison's inventions". So I hope you would accept my invitation and join me at Arab Map 2005, in wonderful Egypt, to make data available for all so as to have more and more geniuses. Sincerely, Dr. Mohamed Salem, General Chairman, Arab Map 2005