Double-digit growth will push Levant PC sales to USD 560 million in 2003

Egypt, the dominant PC market in the Levant region with a 50 per cent share in sales, will reach sales volumes of US$ 271.88 million, a growth of 15.06 per cent. Sales volumes in Jordan are expected to rise by 15.52 per cent and in Lebanon by 12.8 per cent, according to the findings of Dubai-based Madar Research Group.

"The Levant region is poised to achieve remarkable growth in 2003, now that the political unrest is settling. There are strong IT-favorable undercurrents in these markets and the current stage appears to be crucial as far as IT vendors are concerned," said Mounzer Sabbagh, Sales Director, Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "A double-digit growth in PC sales translates into extensive opportunities for vendors and also highlights challenges in a market that is price-sensitive and more inclined towards assembled PCs."

"With consumers becoming more mature, we can expect a shift towards branded PCs," said Sabbagh. "As a rapidly growing IT vendor in the region, Fujitsu Siemens Computers has devised further strategies to strengthen its market share in the Levant, due to the factors been extremely favourable for an increased demand for both desktops and notebooks. The Levant will form a key component of our expansion strategy for the Middle East as we continue to chart our growth driven by our dual focus on mobility and business critical computing."

The general Middle East trend of higher growth in notebooks / laptop computers is also evident in the Levant. In Egypt and Lebanon, notebook sales are projected to have noticeably higher growth than desktop PCs. In Egypt, notebook sales are forecast to growth by 27 per cent; in Lebanon by 25 per cent and in Jordan the notebook growth is expected to be 20 percent.