GITEX 2011 Promises Even More Innovation, Opportunities with Brand New Features
Dubai, UAE:
GITEX, one of the world’s top three ICT events is set to deliver even more new innovative elements, building on the back of the hugely successful 30th anniversary edition, continuing three decades of unrivalled ICT business opportunities.
The constantly-evolving exhibition will bring the latest innovations, concepts and strategies to the Middle East as part of its commitment to drive the region’s technology industry. New features in key sectors such as communications, security and internet commerce will provide unrivalled insights into the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East ICT market.
The all new GITEX Digital Media will focus on all things “e” from search engine optimisation to online shopping and the inaugural GITEX Smart Card highlights the cutting-edge technology surrounding mobile digital security. Due to popular demand, GITEX Cloud Conference, the largest cloud platform in the Middle East will feature an expanded 3-day conference for the 2011 edition, with even more high calibre ICT captains of industry.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of GITEX, said: “The unprecedented achievements at this year’s 30th anniversary of GITEX prove beyond doubt that the ICT opportunities in the Middle East are exceptional. From the incredible showcase of cutting-edge technology and knowledge exchange with top global industry leaders, to an unparalleled business networking platform providing exclusive business opportunities GITEX's successful delivery across all spectrums has surpassed the industry's expectations. It has once again affirmed that with continued leadership and innovation, GITEX shall continue to excel in further integrating the worlds of business and technology each year in Dubai.”
More than 136,000 ICT professionals attended GITEX 2010, attracted by the unrivalled opportunity for new business with more exhibitors than ever before and the groundbreaking new elements to the show, including the Global Leaders Summit, featuring world class industry leaders, GITEX Cloud Confex and GITEX Mobile Apps World.
Over the course of the five day event, many exhibitors struck crucial high-value deals and even more will benefit from established leads.
“Without fail, there is always something new at GITEX,” said Milad Jabbour, President and CEO, Genius Edimax, which launched several new products during the week and enjoyed record interest. “In the first two days of this year alone, we recorded a 30 to 40 per cent increase in business leads over last year,” he added.
GITEX was also a great success for Panasonic, who presented the world’s largest 152” 3D Display and the world’s first 3D Camcorder. That was followed with news of a commitment to be the No1 green innovation electronics company. Anthony Peter, Associate Director and Group General Manager, Panasonic Marketing Middle East, said the response was overwhelming: “This could only be possible on a huge stage such as GITEX. Our association with the event has always paid rich dividends in terms of business leads, and this year we saw double the number of visitors to our stand.”
In one of the many new international alliances, FiCall, a leading regional provider of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based Center Group Global, in a deal worth US $120 million. His Highness Prince Abdelaziz Bin Meshaal Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Board, Ficall, said: “This was the first partnership for Ficall on such a large scale, which came about as a result of being at GITEX. This anniversary was a fantastic platform to create business leads.”
In another GITEX business breakthrough, one of the region’s leading satellite service companies, Lunasat, announced a merger with IDMI, which accounts for 60% of Lebanon’s high speed internet connection. “We chose GITEX as the time and place because it really has become the business centre of the telecoms industry in the Middle East. It was an amazing event for us,” said Ziad T Monla, CEO of Lunasat, which has been an exhibitor with GITEX for seven years.
Since its humble beginnings in 1981 with just 46 exhibitors, GITEX continues to grow in strength and depth and has evolved into a global business driver with 3,500 companies attracting worldwide clients.
Khalifa Alforah, SVP Marketing, Etisalat, said: “From being simply an exhibition, over the last thirty years, GITEX has grown to become a trendsetter, giving a glimpse into the future of technology and pioneering initiatives. This year in particular has been a milestone event.”
Many global ICT companies used this year’s event to significantly raise their profile in the region and attracted new audiences to their products and services. Dana Murugan, Senior Marketing Director, Oracle Middle East and Africa, added: “GITEX is simply the ideal platform for Oracle to showcase the breadth and depth of its technology solutions, underline its market leadership, and renew its commitment to current and potential customers in the region.”
Charbel Fakhoury, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf, said: “GITEX has been an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our technology and product innovation. The event represents a great chance for senior management and decision makers to take a more holistic view of where they want to focus over the next year and we have received huge interest across the board.”
The event also emphasised its importance as a knowledge sharing platform for the most pressing technological issues of the day. In a drive to increase regional ICT prospects, 2010 introduced essential new industry elements, including GITEX Mobile Apps and Content World, GITEX Cloud Confex and GITEX Global Leaders Summit - sponsored by HCL.
Electronics giants, Sharp recorded similar figures. “This was a great year for us at GITEX. We saw far more visitors walk through the doors, with an average of up to 40 percent more traffic to our stand,” said Tom Shimizu, General Manager – Business Solution Division.
Almarri concluded: “The exceptional regional and international business networking opportunities presented at GITEX, which led to lucrative partnerships and business alliances for companies throughout the region, have cemented the Middle East’s position as the one of world’s fastest growing technology markets, and is a great testament to the advancement of the region’s ICT business community. And while this was hailed as most successful edition to date, we will continue to strive to ensure that each GITEX is even better than the last to support such tremendous opportunities.”
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK also highlighted Dubai World Trade Centre’s leading position as a world class venue with the advanced infrastructure to accommodate global event capacities. The recently opened Dubai World Trade Centre metro station catered to approximately three times the average volume of passengers during the week, and traffic management for the tens of thousands of visitors was hailed as a great success, with more shuttle buses and dedicated transport services than ever before.
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will return from 9-13 October 2011 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK delivers the ultimate platform for the international ICT industry to meet and conduct business. The event is a definitive gateway not just to the Middle East market but to the wider region.
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK hosts thousands of key suppliers and market innovators across four core disciplines:
- GITEX Business Solutions: The leading international ICT trade event for enterprise solutions and SMBs for the MENASA region.
- GULFCOMMS: The largest international telecommunications trade event for mobile, fixed IP and satellite.
- Consumer Electronics: The MENASA region’s premier international trade event for consumer electronics, entertainment, IT systems, components and peripherals.
New to 2010 – GITEX Global Leaders Summit:
Part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, - the GITEX Global Leaders Summit - Inspiring Innovation and Collaboration.
GITEX Global Leaders Summit is an exclusive, by invitation only opportunity to network with the region's top decision makers as some of the world's foremost thinkers divulge global insights into today's hottest topics and issues. It offers an exceptional opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing for senior executives involved in the evolving ICT sector in the MENA region.
GITEX Global Conferences:
The region's largest dedicated knowledge exchange forum. This key networking platform brings together the crème de la crème of industry experts and ICT professionals under one roof, featuring an unparalleled series of strategic keynotes, seminars and dynamic networking sessions.
New to 2010 – GITEX Cloud Confex – ‘Shaping the future of cloud computing in the Middle East’
An exhibition and conference for cloud computing specialists to showcase their newest services and innovations, compare and research new ideas, garner new partnerships and knowledge share. The event discusses the pros and cons of this new IT strategy including dynamic infrastructure, flexibility, cost reductions and increased reliability within a two-day dedicated conference.
New to 2010 – GITEX Mobile Apps & Content World:
Mobile Applications and content are in a fierce battle for market share, with mobile operators and manufacturers scrambling to open up their own apps stores. From carrier alliances to apps stores buyouts, the market is evolving rapidly as popular demand for apps to buy and download increases. The opportunities are immense, none more so than within the emerging telecoms market of the Middle East.
GITEX Mobile Apps & Content World is a brand new proposition within the biggest and most influential ICT event for the Middle East & Africa region. Providing a high profile, dynamic framework for the mobile applications and entertainment market, this is the first event of its kind in the region.
ConneXions@GITEX:
A new product location tool that provides serious buyers with the opportunity to identify key companies and products at GITEX 2010.
GITEX Majlis:
This executive business programme for CEOs and other top level executive attendees ensures that they enjoy a fast-track experience at the show. Keeping their busy schedules in mind, members can enjoy easy pre-completed registration, advance issuance and delivery of the GITEX Majlis Badge and Executive Lounge facilities. These are just a few of the benefits offered to GITEX Majlis members.
About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
As the organiser of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than 31 years' experience of delivering world-class events in the Middle East, providing local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge.
Our team organises 18 of the largest and most successful international and regional shows in Middle East, providing an ideal platform for business development in the region. Our commitment to ongoing innovation within the exhibition industry has supported the rapid growth and development of a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer shows, and delivered consistent satisfaction to exhibitors and visitors.
DWTC works the region's leading trade bodies and industry associations to ensure that all conferences deliver full value and are built upon the real needs of their specific sector.
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