With the Middle East’s ICT growth outpacing the global average, international technology professionals from 150 countries are eyeing emerging market growth at this month’s GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK2014 – running 12-16 October -event organiser Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) announced today. Buoyed by region-wide investment in Smart technology spending, the region’s ICT market is set to jump from a projected USD15 billion in 2014 to USD20 billion in 2020, boosted by infrastructure spending by the government sector — the largest and fastest growing vertical market according to IDC. The positive trend has spurred global demand for GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2014 - the largest ICT event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) – with this year’s event due to host more than 3,700 exhibiting companies from 61 countries and 100,000 visitors from 150 countries. GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK has also partnered the world’s top ICT leaders to share transformational developments with regional companies across the show’s four knowledge themes: Smart, Cloud, Big Data and Mobility.
Helal Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and CEO, DWTC, said: “Under the visionary guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai is set to transform into a ‘Smart City’ by harnessing technology to create better living conditions and new forms of developments for all people in Dubai and the UAE. GITEX Technology Week is privileged to contribute to this vision by facilitating the public-private partnership in knowledge exchange and sharing of achievements between the world’s leaders in smart innovations and local organisations leading the smart transformation of Dubai.”
With market research company, Gartner, anticipating a growth rate of eight per cent in regional ICT spending this year - compared with global growth of just 2.1 per cent - Ahmed Al Khaja, Senior Vice President, Venues, DWTC, added: “The significant regional ICT spend demonstrates the region’s aspiration in technology empowerment, as reflected in GITEX’s four knowledge themes - Smart innovation, Cloud Computing, Big Data and Mobility - which are expected to accelerate over coming years in terms of regional spend.”
With Dubai's Smart City roll-out predicted to catalyse an acceleration of Smart City initiatives in other GCC
Countries, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will showcase a pioneering app-based Smart Journey Tour featuring more than 25 Smart technology leaders, as well as government-led updates on the progress of the Dubai Smart City initiative.
Marwan Bin Haider, Executive Director, Planning & Development, Dubai Smart Government, said: “The region’s Smart City developments demonstrate how GCC governments are increasingly innovating delivery of services to people and businesses. GITEX Technology Week is the leading platform to demonstrate best practices in government services and build support of Dubai Smart Government as one of the world’s most efficient systems architects.”
As the show’s Official Smart Experience Partner, Etisalat is collaborating with GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK to provide visitors with a seamless registration process –one aspect of a new ‘On Track for the Smart Experience’ initiative that aims to evolve the attendee experience by integrating the latest ICT innovations such as smart networking and interactive navigation and marketing.
Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President Digital Services, Etisalat, added: “GITEX continues to set the regional pace for ICT development, as evidenced by the upgraded Smart experiences at this year’ show. As part of our partnership with DWTC, Etisalat is utilising the latest cutting-edge technology to ensure show visitors receive an innovative Smart-themed experience which reflects the rapid developments across the UAE’s Smart technology sphere.”
Elsewhere, the Big Data Conference on 14 October will educate on how Big Data can deliver new insights and enhance ROI in a global Big Data market poised to jump from USD 3.2 billion in 2013 to USD 15.1 billion by 2020.
On the same day, Cloud Confex will return as the region’s largest integrated cloud exhibition and conference. With the GCC cloud computing market due to post seven-fold growth and expand at a CAGR of 32.8% to reach USD 668.5 million by 2020, global leaders in data storage and management will present new cloud-based solutions at GITEX.
The Digital Strategies Forum on 15 October will help organisations use mobility to enhance customer interactions.
Global technology company Ericsson, GITEX GulfComms MEA Headline Sponsor, will demonstrate how mobility will enhance daily lives in Smart Cities.
Nawar Atassi, Head of New Account Management for GCC & Pakistan, Ericsson, said: “A new level of mobility will enable the region’s Smart Cities, which is at the heart of our Networked Society vision, to positively impact daily lives at home, at work and in cities. People will be able to live more freely while enjoying smarter features everywhere in more sustainable cities – and Dubai is serving as a global benchmark in Smart City leadership.”
With GITEX Technology Week presenting strategic investment inroads into the lucrative Middle East and African ICT markets, Africa’s largest economy and population ,Nigeria will serve as the show’s Official Country Partner and represent Africa’s high-growth ICT market. Nigeria has 120 million mobile users and 87 per cent mobile penetration by population according to IDC.
Peter Jack, Director General, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency, said: “Nigeria has leapfrogged traditional communications to become an ICT leader. At GITEX, we will showcase our standing as Africa’s gateway for ICT investment opportunities and best practices on how connectivity can make a social impact.”
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2014 will also debut a range of innovative and exciting industry features catering to more than 1500 delegates and 150 speakers including the Cloud Confex, Big DataConference, and Digital Strategies Forum.
At Industry Briefings - a key component of this year’s GITEX Trends – speakers will debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific knowledge platforms; GITEX After 5; the Bloggers Tweetup and Tech Talk Blogger Programme which will double attendance from regional and international bloggers.
Expanded event features include the official press reception ShowStoppers, online community ConneXions, live streaming of social media, trending topics and tech news via the Content Hub, the 2nd GITEX Hot Stuff Awards recognising top gadgets and GITEX TV - the 53-screen in-house broadcast presence.
Enhanced interactive elements include the GSM Exchange Zone, a platform for the mobile product industry, the C-Level Majlis Lounge for senior executive networking, free Smart Sessions for knowledge-sharing, the ConneXions Lounge and the SME Zone.
In addition to the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards, the GITEXStudent Lab will recognise leading students in the field of technology innovation and connect them with industry professionals, while the 2nd GITEX
Cloud Awards will identity and recognise cloud computing excellence in the Middle East and Africa.
On the fringes of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the second edition of the GSMA Mobile 360 Series: Middle East, a dedicated platform for senior executives from the region’s mobile industry, and the fourth edition of InfoComm MEA, the leading showcase of the latest professional audio-visual communications technology in the Middle East and Africa.
On the opening day of 12 October, GITEX Technology Week will host Google for Work, the first time the invite-only event, billed as ‘Unleash Your Creativity – Google Style’, will be held in the Middle East. Senior management and C-level executives can learn how to tackle complex problems and opportunities, and foster a culture of innovation within their organizations.
For more information on the 34th GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK - running at DWTC from 12-16 October, 2014 - visit: www.gitex.com.
