Microsoft and region's IT decision makers discuss business issues at Middle East CIO Summit

The forum will showcase key Microsoft enterprise technologies and services, the benefits customers have realized through working with Microsoft, and also provide inside information on how Microsoft deploys and manages its own technologies in an enterprise-wide environment. The event is sponsored by Microsoft strategic partners HP and i-mate.

"The Microsoft CIO summit is a reflection of the increasing importance of the role played by information technology in the public and private sector in the Gulf. The CIO is responsible for so much more than ensuring that their organizations have effective, secure IT systems. CIOs have the capability to drive productivity and create new ways of working, to improve standards of governance and corporate reporting, and even guide business development and growth,"

said Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager, Microsoft Gulf.

"This conference aims to give CIOs an in-depth understanding of the technologies and trends that are shaping the industry, and to give them an insight into how these technologies can transform their own organizations," he added.

In addition to the keynote presentations, the general session will include a presentation from analyst company IDC, along with presentations from Microsoft customers, partners HP and i-mate, and updates from Microsoft experts on IT security and integration. The day also includes networking opportunities and a panel discussion session.

Ashraf Helmy, Product Marketing Manager, StorageWorks, HP Middle East said: "We are proud to partner with Microsoft for the CIO Summit. At HP, we are constantly evolving our Adaptive Enterprise strategy to address the challenges companies are facing worldwide. HP has a unique breadth in its ability to help customers capture, manage, retain and deliver information according to its business value.'

"Businesses challenged with the need to easily and cost-effectively manage ever-increasing amounts of data can use our expanded Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) portfolio to put their information to work for competitive advantage specifically by accelerating data archiving and retrieval, increasing worker productivity and simplifying the protection of their customers critical data. Our latest range or products, software and services will ensure smooth implementations into the IT infrastructure, to maximize business results," he added.

"i-mate is extremely proud to sponsor the Microsoft CIO Summit, which showcases key Microsoft solutions for the enterprise. The i-mate(TM) enterprise solution is the natural choice for today's enterprise to securely extend its IT systems to its mobile workforce and empower them with instant connectivity to the data and tools they need to make better and faster business decisions," said Ulla Larsen, Regional Corporate Manager at i-mate

The summit aims to address the key issues that are facing CIOs in the Middle East today, such as delivering more effective and secure systems to maintain productivity, how to operate on a global stage with global standards of governance, and meeting growing requirements for accountability to shareholders and regulatory authorities.