IT spending in the Middle East and Africa is set to grow faster than almost any other region in the world as investment continues at a record pace with a 12 per cent growth this year, according to a new research.

While worldwide spending will only grow at three per cent, the MEA region is set to buck the trend as emerging markets drive global industry growth, reported IDC, the premier global provider of market intelligence for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets.

The MEA region's growth percentage is four times that of the global average, it added.

According to the study, the global IT spending figures were set to hit a record $1.48 trillion during this year.

International firms are already recognising the potential for growth in emerging markets like Dubai, with an unprecedented interest and confirmed participation to showcase the latest technology and innovation at this year’s Gitex Technology Week, the region’s most influential ICT exhibition, said the event organisers, Dubai World Trade Centre.

"This year, Gitex will celebrate its 30th anniversary when the exhibition opens from October 17 to 21 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre," said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre.

The show connects more than 133,000 industry professionals from 134 countries with over 3,500 suppliers and is one of the most influential and high-profile events in the global ICT sector today.

The five day event embodies the aspirational vision of the sector by drawing global attention and continuous investment to the Middle East market.

“Gitex’s 30th anniversary is a key milestone for the UAE and the region’s ICT industry,” Almarri noted.

“As government and private institutions continue to invest heavily in increasingly advanced technology solutions, the international focus is on developing nations to drive impressive return on investment,” he added.
 
According to Almarri, global companies are aligning with Gitex Technology Week earlier than ever before, reflecting the increasing demand to generate new business in the UAE and wider Middle East region.

New elements to the show this year will make it more impressive than ever, including the dedicated Telecommunications Forum, Cloud Confex, Gitex Mobile Apps World and many more 30th anniversary features. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will be a strategic partner of the new Telecommunications Forum.

“TRA is proud to participate in Gitex Technology Week, as we believe experts and key providers all come together to share ideas and valuable business,” said Mohammad Al Ghanim, director general, TRA.

The 30th anniversary show will provide high profile international brands the most important strategic platform to fuel sustainable business growth and ensure strong returns on investment.

Gitex celebrates this landmark achievement at a time when companies are realigning their business proposition and strive to bring new innovations into the industry, said Malek Al Malek, managing director of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource Zone, ICT cluster of Tecom Investments.

"Gitex has reflected the impressive growth of the ICT sector in the last 30 years. Dubai Internet City’s support for the event continues since our establishment 10 years ago."

"As Dubai continues on its path to a strong knowledge based economy, Gitex Technology Week alongside DIC will continue to demonstrate the investment opportunities the IT industry offers in the region,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service