Promethean to announce Bahrain as Middle East hub

Promethean, a company which specialises in interactive classroom solutions, will open a regional hub in Bahrain as interest in the group's products continues to gather pace.

'There are currently 10,000 classrooms using our interactive whiteboard in the UAE,' Sharaf told AME Info. 'Here we have links with Gems, in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain we have links with 80 government schools, and even Ministries find the technology useful. Our biggest market by far is Saudi Arabia.'

The group's sales have grown exponentially since they entered the region and they are looking to break into other emerging markets, including looking for partners in Sudan, Iran and Yemen. Currently the organic growth is 100% year-on-year according to Sharaf.

The company has two different types of software, one for early learners and one for older students and corporate solutions. The system runs from an interactive whiteboard, which allows images and programmes to be played on it, along with interactive tools. Independent units are then linked to the system so that each pupil has their own work station. The software comes in 20 languages, including Arabic.

The company won an award from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in July as the most innovative idea for an educational tool.

Sharaf is not worried about a slowdown in sales during the current financially strained climate: 'Education is always of interest, we are showing something completely different.

'It's comparable in price to a PC, so schools don't have to worry about breaking the budget. I've even had parents asking for the price so that they can donate it to their children's classroom. Education is something that noone wants to skimp on.'

'Figures now are bigger than in Europe, I thought there might be problems financially speaking but there hasn't been. People see it as something essential. We are in talks with various regional ministries who are seeing it as a fundamental tool for all new schools. The Aspire Academy in Qatar has it in all classrooms.'


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