Egyptian companies will be participating at this year's GITEX Technology Week, which takes place at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 - 22 October 2009 in a move to attract further investment in Egypt.
Trade volume between the UAE and Egypt tripled to USD 1.4 billion in 2008, accounting for 10.6 percent of Egypt's total foreign inward investment. Overall foreign investment in Egypt has risen to USD 13.4 billion.
One major area of investment in Egypt has been the ICT market, which is now one of the fastest growing globally, according to a recent report from Business Monitor International (BMI). The report suggests the country's ICT industry will be worth around USD 1.9 billion by 2013.
Egyptian companies have always had a strong presence at the show, spearheaded by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA).
"Positive government initiatives have helped to make the Egyptian ICT market among the world's most competitive today," said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre. "GITEX Technology Week will help Egyptian companies initiate meaningful relationships with the international trading community which is now prioritizing its attention to this part of the world."
According to Business Monitor International, ICT services in Egypt were worth around USD$ 283 million last year, accounting for about 24 percent of total spending on ICT. BMI further reports that this figure is expected to grow by about 12 percent through 2013, fuelled largely by e-Government initiatives and the Egyptian government's 'Computer for Every Home' program.
Hundreds of Egypt's key decision makers are expected at this year's event. Gitex 2008 saw a record number of senior executives from the country visit GITEX Technology Week, and this year that figure is expected to be higher than ever.
"We are looking forward to GITEX Technology Week as it allows us to tap into opportunities that can help drive Egypt's economy. The event also helps us showcase Egyptian expertise to a global audience, allowing for greater synergy," said Dr. Hazem Y. Abdelazim, Chief Executive Officer for ITIDA.
Many leading companies have confirmed their presence at GITEX Technology Week 2009, one of the most important ICT exhibitions in the world. Leading brands including Avaya, Cisco, Dell, du, Etisalat, hp, Microsoft, NEC Philips, Oracle, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and Thuraya are attending.
There are a host of new companies signed up for this year's show from all over the world including Charisma, Esense, Hitachi and Route Me Canada.One area that is also still seeing heavy investment is public services.
Governments in the Middle East are continually improving the infrastructure and ICT systems, creating many opportunities for international companies to build strong business relationships. UAE government entities have always recognized the importance of GITEX Technology Week, and as e-Government services play an increasingly important role, there will be a dedicated section at this year's event.
Participating bodies include Dubai e-Government, Dubai Municipality, the Department of Interior Naturalisation & Residency Administration Dubai, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), amongst many others who have already committed to the show.
In its 29th year, GITEX Technology Week has become a beacon for the information technology and communications sectors in the Middle East, and attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world.
As well as GITEX Business Solutions, GITEX Technology Week 2009 will offer a focused environment with other industry specific sectors including, GULFCOMMS and Consumer Electronics. In addition, MEFX, the Middle East International Banking, Financial Technology and Services Exhibition, will run alongside GITEX Technology Week to provide all-encompassing exposure to business opportunities throughout the region.
New for this year, the GITEX Global Conference includes the 'Leaders in Industry Breakfast Briefings' specifically for high level executives, with speakers including Dr. Raymond Khoury, Principal, Booz & Company; Bobby Cameron, Vice President, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research; Katja Ruud, Research Director and Agenda Manager, Gartner Research; and Sandy Carter, Vice President, IBM Software Group Worldwide Channels for IBM Corporation.
About ITIDA
Established in 2004, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) aims at developing and promoting the Egyptian IT industry. Relying on unequivocal governmental support, ITIDA utilizes the vast array of advantages bestowed upon Egypt and synchronizes public and private efforts in order to keep the country at the forefront of the global ICT market
