Saudi Arabia is currently the largest information and communication technology (ICT) market in the Middle East and expectations for the next 12 months indicate that this will continue to stay so, according to a recent research.

The research by Hewlett Packard and Coleman Research Group showed that 85 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s organisations will adopt cloud technologies in 2012.

The study also reveals that almost 40 per cent of those looking to implement cloud computing are keen to do so prior to next year, a statement from the company said.

The second Annual CIO Strategies Saudi Arabia Forum is set to take place in Riyadh on November 21 and 22. The event which is being organised by French business information group, Naseba, is a two-day platform divided into two separate areas of focus.

Day one is dedicated to strategies and knowledge-sharing for chief information officers, while day two is called ‘Kingdom Cloud Computing’, the statement said.

Of principal interest to organisations in the country is how they can modernise their legacy applications by using the cloud - including database system and application development. Switching to a virtual environment will enhance the speed of application development and delivery.

In addition, the platform provides Saudi CIOs with an opportunity to learn about the latest technology and innovations in the ICT sector from leading solution providers including Hitachi Data Systems, ZTE, enStratus and Sybase, it said.

“Businesses across the globe are shifting their technological focus to cloud computing. By organising the second Annual CIO Strategies Saudi Arabia Forum, with a day dedicated to the cloud, we are ensuring that the Saudi Arabian ICT sector keeps pace with global standards,” said Nicholas Watson, managing director, Naseba. – TradeArabia News Service