13 French IT companies at GITEX 2006

Thirteen leading french companies, manufacturers and suppliers, will thus exhibit their latest technologies and innovations so as to reinforce professional contacts and provide new business opportunities between France and the UAE in particular, and the Middle East area in general.

Gitex is the region's largest and most comprehensive showcase of hardware, software, network, office automation, consumer electronics, and communication products. The exhibition will host over 3 000 reknown companies with around 100 000 professionals visitors from more than 60 countries.

The 13 french companies:

ARCAD Software (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): Leading vendor in the software management market, it provides multi-platform solutions centered of the IBM System I platform.

BERIT (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): Launched in January 2005 to meet the eminent needs of the market, its main field of business is IBM iSeries , i5 systems, services and outsourcing.

CILASOFT (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): International software developer creating security and audit solutions for the IBM iSeries and I5 platforms since 1998.

DACOMEX (HALL 1- Stand B2-5): A leading supplier of peripherals, computer and networking accessories, storage, cleaning and connectivity products.

DANE-ELEC MEMORY(HALL 7- Stand G7-20): An international company specialized in the manufacturing and distribution of DRAM and FLASH memory for computers, telecommunications and digital equipments.

IFB-Cash Office (HALL 1- Stand B2-1): A software publishing company dedicated to bringing effective and comprehensive "Cash Office" management solutions to retail and wholesale markets.

POLYPORE (HALL 1- Stand B2-2): A world leader in manufacturing compatible office printing supplies for printers, fax and copiers.

QOSMETRICS (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): An international company that provides award-winning, carrier-proven end-to-end network performance monitoring and diagnostic products for carriers, service providers and enterprises.

REPORT ONE (HALL 1- Stand B2-3): Its main field of activity is Business Intelligence software for small and medium size companies and Reporting Suite using Excel© and OpenOffice.org to create and and publish reports and business dashboards for managers.

SOFRECOM (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): It fosters the development of all telecom players worldwide, provides consulting, network engineering and Information Technology solutions.

QUICK EDD Traders (HALL 7- Stand G7-20): A full-function High Availability and Data Replication software product that is configured and priced to start small and expand as the organization's need grows for protection of critical applications.

UNITEK (HALL 1- Stand B2-7): Manufactures and distributes a wide range UPS and Electrical Safety products through a network of partners and distributors.

VERBATIM (HALL 1- Stand B2-6): Leader in Data storage technology, its present line up of products includes, among others, latest CD and DVD formats, Blu-Ray and HD DVD, USB keys and flash memory cards.

Over the past three years, the Middle-East and Gulf region has recorded some of the highest GDP growth rates in the world and according to the analyst group IDC, an on-going economic expansion will have a strong impact on ICT demand. IDC expects the demand for IT in the Middle East to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 16.9% between 2005 and 2009. Investments in hardware equipment increase at a CAGR of 19.6% until 2009, while investments in software products will rise by 10.8 %. In comparison with Western Europe, the Middle East region is expanding at more than twice the rate.