Biggest ICT names flock to Gitex Technology Week 2008

Gitex Technology Week runs 19-23 October 2008 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) with thousands of companies looking to generate new business opportunities in one of the fastest growing IT industries in the world.

Organiser Dubai World Trade Centre says that the event is set for another sold out presentation with more than 3,300 companies from 83 countries welcoming 130,000 trade visitors.

With the global economic slowdown affecting many regions, international companies are looking to invest in financially stable regions like the Middle East.

Research conducted by economic and financial analysts Global Insight shows that the Middle East will spend $73bn on ICT in 2008, and $95bn by 2011 - a rise of 30%. The UAE is also showing no signs of slowing down, spending $11.4bn on ICT this year, a figure that is set to rise to $14.8bn by 2011 (29.58%).

"While the world economy is besieged by unprecedented financial challenges, the UAE banking sector remains robust. The regional market continues to hold itself up extremely well despite the global unease," said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre.

"We believe that investment in ICT continues to be a priority for many vertical industries such as health care, education, public service and construction which are enjoying strong growth in the region here. Many international technology companies are diversified in their clientele portfolio and business offerings. They will be capitalising on GITEX as the timely occasion to pursue new opportunities and greater penetration in this high growth region," he added.

This year will also see a 20% increase in the number of government offices and ministries taking part from all over the UAE including Dubai E-Government, Ministry of Interior Naturalisation and Residency Administration, Ministry of Health, The Abu Dhabi Police Authority and Ministry of Labour. Other government departments from within the Middle East such as Bahrain e-Government and Knowledge Oasis Muscat will also be in attendance.

Industry support has also been robust with world technology leaders including du, Etisalat, Google, HP, Microsoft, Oracle, RIM, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Sun MicroSystems, Symantec and TRA set to announce important strategic developments and host major product launches during the event.

There are many companies who will also be showing for the first time at Gitex Technology Week including Dell, Ericcson, Google, Seagate Technology, the Prime Minister's Office and Western Digital UK.

Many companies are using the event as a launch pad including Etisalat, who will announce some new international partnerships, while Avaya will showcase its full range of IP technologies, Panasonic will bring the world's largest plasma TV to the event, and showcasing for the first time in the Middle East, Google will meet new partners as well as present the Arabic versions of its Gmail and Google Knols.

The event also welcomes 30 country pavilions, with first time representation from Bahrain, Ireland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Thailand. The top three regional countries are from Egypt and Jordan and Bahrain, with China bringing the biggest delegations this year.

Gitex Technology Week incorporates a powerful week of dedicated trade events, including Gitex Business Solutions, Gulfcomms and Consumer Electronics, as well as targeted networking initiatives designed to ensure the event covers the entire technology spectrum.

To support the show's focus on high-level business development and strategic alliances, the Gitex Technology Week Global Conference has expanded its programme to include an impressive 35 tracks of interactive discussion, featuring some of the world's leading industry experts on new generation technology.

The Chairman and Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems, Scott McNealy, will open this year's event with a keynote address. McNealy, who is acknowledged as one of the most world's most influential IT innovators, will be talking on the topic of 'How open source technology is driving economic growth and social progress'.

"Attracting new and diverse companies as well as world leaders to Gitex Technology Week like Scott McNealy highlights the prominence of the Middle East markets to the global audience. It also reaffirms our position as a strategic platform and point of entry for companies looking to take advantage of this buoyant market," added Almarri.

Some of the leading experts in the field of IT will be speaking at the event, including the Chief Information Officer of the multi billion dollar aluminium firm, DUBAL, Ahmad Alumulla; Tariq Y. Elsadik, the Chief Information Officer at Abu Dhabi based conglomerate Al Fahim; Fadi Hindi, the Head of IT Planning and Enterprise Architecture for Dubai Customs and John Fitzgerald, CEO, Beyond Encryption Technologies.

In addition, Gitex Technology Week will present the exclusive Gitex Majlis, an executive business programme for CEOs and senior business professionals providing a networking forum, executive lounge and preferred priority seating at seminars, workshops and keynotes.

Innovation will also be on display in the world of electronic gaming, with the inaugural Gitex Digital Game World. Gitex Technology Week will provide a platform to discuss the business-to-business potential of this innovative market a series of developer workshops at the event, with specific emphasis on supporting the development of original Arabic games and software.

Taking place simultaneously at the Gitex Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo, regional teams will battle it out in a series of organised games and online tournaments to win the opportunity to compete with the visiting world's best gamers in the 'Intel Extreme Masters' competition.
Gitex Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo takes place at Airport Expo, Dubai, 18-24 October, 2008.

For the first time, Gitex Technology Week will open the Consumer Electronics section of the exhibition only to the general public on 23 October. Entrance is free.

Visitors are encouraged to pre-register for the event online at www.gitex.com and can also avail of the new online payment for the conference and five-day visitor ticket to ensure quick and easy access. Online registration and payment closes on 18 October at 1pm. Onsite registration will be available for industry professionals on the day. Admission includes access to all events including Gitex Business Solutions, Gulfcomms, and Consumer Electronics.