Bahrain's IT spending is expected to hit $400 million by 2012, according to research conducted by Business Monitor International, a specialist on global emerging markets.

The report has revealed that Bahrain's IT spending has risen considerably from $27 million in 2005 and is likely to reach $400 million in 2012 – an increase by 1381 percent.

More than 20 IT companies from Bahrain will be looking to build on the kingdom's growing popularity as the region's more advanced market and the strong relationships with the UAE technology industries at the Gitex Technology Week, from October 19 to 23, 2008 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Al Nadeem Information Technology, BITS Information Technology, Gulf Future Business, Hi-Tech, Mazin Computer Centre, and Microcenter, will be the notable participants from the kingdom in addition to the e-Government Agency and other ministries.

Green Packet Networks (GPN), which launched in Bahrain in 2007, will also have its own stand.

'Bahrain's IT sector is set to dramatically expand over the next five years. Bahrain is one of the region's more advanced markets and is an e-government leader.

'Gitex Technology Week will bring together some of the best companies from Bahrain to build stronger relationships with a global audience,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of Gitex Technology Week.

Bahrain is a regional financial centre with a robust and developing capital market and its e-government programs are considered the best in the Middle East.

Gitex Technology Week executives are expecting thousands of visitors from Bahrain at this year's event – the highest-ever figure in the exhibiton's 28-year history – as companies look to establish relationships with leading ICT businesses.

Dr Ali Al Mashat, chairman of Green Packet Networks said: 'Bahrain has great potential to position itself as a leader in the global ICT market. At Gitex Technology Week we will be introducing the benefits of leading-edge GPN solutions and talk with international partners about developing the most advanced solutions for our market.'

According to internetworldstats.com, 35 percent of Bahrain now has access to the internet, making it one of the highest users in the Middle East.

This year's Gitex Technology Week will incorporate a powerful week of dedicated trade events, including Gitex Business Solutions, Gulfcomms and Consumer Electronics, as well as targeted networking initiatives designed to ensure the event covers the entire technology spectrum.

Key exhibitors including Blackberry, Dell, Etisalat, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle Systems, Panasonic, Sharp and Symantec are among the major names that have committed to Gitex Technology Week.

To support the show's focus on high-level business development and strategic alliances, Gitex Technology Week Global Conference programme has been expanded to include an impressive 35 tracks of interactive discussion, featuring some of the world’s leading industry experts on new generation technology.

Some of the leading experts in the field of IT will be speaking at the event, including the chief information officer of the multi billion dollar Aluminium firm, Dubal, Ahmad Alumulla; Tariq Y Elsadik, the chief information officer at Abu Dhabi based conglomerate Al Fahim; Fadi Hindi, the head of IT Planning and Enterprise Architecture for Dubai Customs and John Fitzgerald, CEO, Beyond Encryption Technologies.

In addition, Gitex Technology Week will present the exclusive Gitex Majlis, an executive business programme for CEOs and senior business professionals providing a networking forum, executive lounge and preferred priority seating at seminars, workshops and keynotes.

Other key features at this year's exhibition include many new pro