Business management software and services provider Sage Software has said  IT solutions company Conti-tech will be its first X3 business partner in Saudi Arabia. 

Sage Software is the global supplier of Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management and Human Resource Management solutions to SMEs.

Together, Sage and Conti-tech are aiming to meet the needs of the manufacturing sector in the Kingdom, which is looking to reduce its dependence on the oil sector by diversifying its economic activity, according to a report in the Gulf News.

'Research house IDC estimates that IT systems spending will reach $3.7 billion in 2008. As the Saudi market for technology solutions is expanding and the manufacturing sector is growing, we needed a partner that can help promote our solutions and support our presence in Saudi Arabia which is a long-standing commitment to this vital market,” said Marc Van der Ven, managing director, Sage Software Middle East.

According to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) there are approximately 3,986 manufacturing industries in Saudi Arabia with a total investment of SR306 billion ($81.5 billion). - TradeArabia News Service