UAE - Egypt Trade Volume Tripled to Exceed US$ 1.4 Billion

Sept. 13, 2009 - PRLog -- 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 $1.9bn by 2013.

In a move to attract further investment in Egypt, more than 30 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.

Egyptian companies have always had a strong presence at the show, spearheaded by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the executive IT arm of Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). This year the agency is expanding its participation by 15%.

Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, said:

'Positive government initiatives have helped to make the Egyptian ICT market among the world's most competitive today. Gitex Technology Week will help Egyptian companies initiate meaningful relationships with the international trading community which is now prioritising its attention to this part of the world.'

'Despite the global economic slowdown, public spending by the government, combined with significant population growth and continued development in healthcare, education, real estate and tourism, will offer excellent opportunities for ICT companies in Egypt,' he added.

According to Business Monitor International, ICT services in Egypt were worth around $283m last year, accounting for about 24% of total spending on ICT. BMI further reports that this figure is expected to grow by about 12% through 2013, fuelled largely by eGovernment initiatives and the Egyptian government's 'Computer for Every Home' programme.

Hundreds of Egypt's key decision makers are expected at this year's event. 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.

'ITIDA has played a fundamental role in driving the growth of Egypt's ICT market by helping to attract foreign investments to Egypt,' said Dr. Hazem Y. Abdelazim, Chief Executive Office for ITIDA.

'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,' added Abdelazim.

With the Middle East ICT sector remaining buoyant at a time when more established markets are experiencing a slowdown, global companies are focusing heavily on strengthening their presence in the region.

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 have all returned with an upbeat momentum.

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 recognised the importance of Gitex Technology Week, and as eGovernment services play an increasingly important role, there will be a dedicated section at this year's event.

Participating bodies include Dubai eGovernment, 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.

Now 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. Decision makers and buyers will seek to use the event to improve the value proposition of their offerings while enhancing the cost efficiency of their operations.

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.

The conference has been expanded to feature leading international speakers and experts who will engage Gitex Technology Week visitors with new intelligence and insights so they can more effectively manage business during unprecedented market conditions.

Gitex Technology Week, 18-22 October is open to trade and business professionals only.

The show will open at 1pm on Sunday 18 October 2009, and close at 7pm. On Monday 19 October 2009, Tuesday 20 October 2009, and Wednesday 21 October 2009 Gitex Technology Week will run from 10am - 7pm, and on Thursday 22 October 2009 the show will open at 10am and close at 5pm. The Consumer Electronics section of Gitex Technology Week will be open free to the public on Thursday 22 October.

Trade visitors can register now and pre-pay online at Gitex website www.gitex.com saving up to 25% on entry to the show.

# # #

Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than 30 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.