The presence of Qatari ICT companies at the upcoming Gitex Technology Week in Dubai has increased four-fold compared to 2009.

With a growth of 24.5 per cent forecasted over the next year, Qatar has become one of the leading markets for ICT investments in the Middle East according to the latest research from Business Monitor International.

“The 30th anniversary of Gitex is a key milestone for the region’s ICT industry,” said Abdulla Qassem, senior vice president, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of Gitex.

“This very special event will help more Qatari organisations build business relationships with the global ICT community, which is now prioritising its attention to this part of the world. Qatar is one of the fastest growing economies in the Gulf and the infrastructure and ease of conducting business has made it a key market for international technology companies.

“Gitex Technology Week is the most significant ICT show of the year in the Middle East and Africa and is making an increasing impact on the global technology events stage. Companies across the region are able to use Gitex as a platform to highlight the latest technological advancements and explore opportunities for growth,” he added.

“It is important that our clients, stakeholders and the broader public have an opportunity to hear about new and emerging IT solutions, and understand how these technologies are impacting organisations in Qatar and across the region,” said James Fanella, VP sales & marketing, Meeza, the largest Qatari contingent at this year’s Gitex, and a specialist in cloud computing.

“Gitex Technology Week is the essential ICT event in the region, and we are looking to develop a strong working relationship with global companies as Qatar’s ICT landscape expands.”

Leading names joining Meeza include Soft Solutions and Pracoss Technologies.

To ensure the show maintains its pace setting agenda, brand new elements have been added, including specialist features on the latest technology innovation and ICT business opportunities.

Another new addition, Cloud Confex, debates the growing phenomenon of cloud computing, while Gitex Mobile Apps & Content World covers the highly lucrative and largely untapped market of mobile phone applications in the Middle East.

Alongside these debut features, the Gitex 2010 Global Conference will see a gathering of some of the ICT industry’s top professionals addressing some of the most contemporary issues in today’s ICT landscape.

The show connects more than 133,000 industry professionals from 135 countries with over 3,500 suppliers and is one of the most influential and high-profile events in the global ICT sector today, a statement said.

Gitex Technology Week, which takes place at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 17 to 21 is the largest ICT event in MEA. – TradeArabia News Service