Dubai: The Middle East registered a growth of 6.66 per cent and emerged as the top region for India’s electronics hardware exports during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

The electronics goods exports to Middle East countries are valued at $1.74 billion (Dh6.3 billion), up from $1.63 billion during the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

“The UAE is the top destination for India’s electronics exports, followed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey among the Mideast countries,” said Kamal Vachani, Regional Director of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC).

The ESC is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India.

For software exports, Vachani said that the US, UK and Europe lead the list.

He said that ESC expects a ten per cent growth in exports in the current fiscal year.

Export of software and related services to the Middle East has also registered an excellent growth of 11.74 per cent to $2.07 billion compared to $1.85 billion last year.

Vachani said there is rising interest among Indian companies to explore Middle East and neighbouring countries and the region enjoys solid growth rates despite global slowdown. Subsequently a number of Indian companies find Dubai an ideal location to enhance their businesses. India is witnessing a very high growth in exports of electronics hardware, he said.

India’s total export of electronics hardware during 2013-14 is estimated to be $7.66 billion and that of computer software and services is estimated to be $8.40 billion.

D.K.Sareen, executive director of ESC, said that the group is keen to take advantage of the booming IT market in the Gulf and will be fielding 40 ICT companies to take part in this year’s Gitex Technology Week, taking place from October 12-16 in Dubai.

Vachani said that the ESC has been encouraging Indian IT companies particularly small-and medium-enterprises to participate by offering special packages since Middle East markets hold tremendous potential for Indian companies.

“Internet technology is becoming increasingly important for all business and it has made a serious impact in the business world. Apart from that, the UAE is now being recognised as the Middle East’s ICT hub and the sector has shown rapid development in the past few years,” he said.