IT software spending in Kuwait hit $42 million in 2008, according to recent industry reports.

In line with this, leading IT distributor Mindware and Microsoft, hosted a channel partner event recently at the Movenpick Hotel & Resort in Al Bida’a, Kuwait. The event focused on gaining new potential customers and also highlighted Microsoft products’ achievements and benefits, as well as new developments in its volume licensing policies.

With the 18 per cent jump in the software spending in Kuwait, a similar moderate growth is being expected in IT expenditure within the Middle East region, as well as in central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America, according to recent reports.

The SME sectors within these regions are likely to lead spending growth, amidst efforts of manufacturing and trading firms to enhance efficiency by shifting from manual environments to full automation of back-office systems.

Leveraging its extensive channel network of 2,500 regional partners, Mindware has seen outstanding growth in its revenues in the region, which peaked at $200 million in 2007. As the first company to distribute Microsoft products in the Gulf region, Mindware has gathered considerable experience, marketing its state-of-the-art products, which has further strengthened its relationship with the global IT leader.

“Our efforts to organise this event underline our commitment to both our channel partners as well as to Microsoft, who have mutually and significantly contributed to our growth in Kuwait,” said Jeff Jacob, Microsoft unit manager, Mindware. “In addition, we have also proven the effectiveness of such events as a platform to educate our channel partners with regard to newest products we are launching to the market, as well as new developments in volume licensing policies of global brands such as Microsoft. Through this event, we are aiming to further expand our current reseller network, which can help us further entrench the presence of Microsoft in the country.”

In addition to high-impact events staged in partnership with the most prominent IT brands, Mindware also provides value-added distribution (VAD) services to its regional channel partners.

With a focus on logistics, promptness and reliability, Mindware’s expanded suite of VAD services include a whole range of networked services such as pre-sales consultancy, marketing, service implementation and after-sales support, which have facilitated market penetration and profitability for its partners and for its company. – TradeArabia News Service