A brilliant platform

Exhibitors old and new are all excited to participate in this Gitex. Neesha C. Salian finds out why

• The mega IT show is ON
• Gadgets galore!
• It's all about connections
• Check, it's all in there
• Security matters
• A brilliant platform
• The future is now
• Perfect visual experience
• Capture those moments
• Enter home theatre
• Hot unwired!
• Getting connected
• Integrated solutions
• A world of possibilities
• Playing multiple roles
• Taking you places
• Productivity: Name of the game
• Advantage faxes!
• Take your pick
• It does more than just destruct files

Gitex 2005 will encompass an entire range of IT-related products and services including IT equipment and systems, computer components and peripherals, consumer electronics and home automation, telecommunications, wireless technology and software.

Over the years, regional, local as well as international companies have been consistently maintaining a strong presence at the event.

According to Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the show, 939 exhibitors from more than 41 countries showcased their products, services and technologies last year.

This trend also emphasises the fact that the Middle East and North Africa is a lucrative IT market: the third fastest growing IT market after India and China, denote projections by the research firm IDC.

The list of exhibitors this year is slated to top that of last year. According to the organiser, participation in Gitex 2005 from Western Europe has registered a substantial increase over last year with UK companies in the lead, followed by German and French ICT firms.

Several companies from Spain, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland are also present.

Global presence

The Asian pavilion is also strongly represented through China and India with more than 130 companies from those countries at this Gitex.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania, which comprise the Magreb region, will also be participating at the event.

"The interest shown by these companies for Gitex once again underlines the international status of Dubai as a major hub for business and commerce.

"While geographical advantage is just one reason, other factors include a most modern infrastructure and an ideal networking venue. This is why industry professionals, including those from IT sector, choose Dubai to conduct their business," says Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri, Director-General, DWTC.

Al Marri also emphasises the event is an ideal platform for networking and conducting business, since it facilitates conditions beneficial to business in the region. Companies participating at this Gitex are also of the same opinion.

According to Leonard Yap, Senior Marketing Consultant, Creative Labs Middle East (CLME), "Gitex provides us with an excellent way to have personal contact experience with people in the retail and distribution channels. Nothing beats face-to-face meetings. Gitex also provides us with a brilliant platform to showcase our best and latest products."

Creative is acclaimed globally in the audio and PDE segments, and offers a wide range of products beginning with MP3 players, portable media centres, digital and web cameras, PC peripherals and graphics solutions to video and communications products.

Yap says, "We had a 60 square metre booth last year, which was the largest we ever had at Gitex, and the response was brilliant! I dare say that looking back year-on-year, our business in this region has more than doubled.

"This year, we will have an even stronger presence at Gitex. We have also taken positive steps towards establishing a foothold in this region through the birth of Creative Labs Middle East, a sales and marketing office located in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone.

"Therefore, we are better equipped than before to provide close support to distributors in the Middle East and Central Asia."

"Gitex is a good platform to reinforce our presence and branding in the region," says Riyaz Abdulla, Marketing Director, Imation, a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of magnetic and optical removable data storage products that services clients in 60 countries, in both business and consumer markets.

"In addition, it gives us a good opportunity to meet with our partners and end users from around the region, to discuss and present technology and map the future road in the storage arena."

"Our focus at this Gitex would be to introduce new products across both in B2B and B2C segments and facilitate a strong position for our brand as well as our partners.

"We would also be very active at the Gitex Shopper and at the retail channel to generate extensive brand pull," says Abdulla.

According to Vishnu Taimni, Category Manager, Notebooks and Handhelds for the Middle East, Hewlett-Packard (HP), being part of an environment that attracts the most important names in the world of IT, is an obvious choice for a company such as HP.

"Being the leading IT company in the Middle East, we would like to be present at Gitex to display our cutting-edge products and solutions.

"Gitex provides us with a platform to showcase our leading technologies to a host of visitors who come from across the world. It also provides a good venue to interact with industry experts and profess