The 31st edition of the Gitex Technology Week, the leading ICT event in the Gulf region’s calendar, was officially opened on Monday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
More than 3,500 companies from 57 countries, including 40 from India, are participating in the week-long event. The event will showcase first-time appearances from Kazakhstan, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Palestine and new national pavilions from Bangladesh, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Scotland and Spain are showcasing their latest products and services to more than 130,000 visitors at the five-day event.
In order to assist Indian ICT exporters in diversifying and expanding their global base, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) is participating in a big way at GITEX.
“GITEX is the largest and the most impressive ICT event of its kind in the Middle East and is now ranked as one of the top three ICT exhibitions in the world. Naturally, India has a great stake in the booming Middle East, Africa, Asia region and European markets, for which Dubai is the gateway,” ESC Regional Director, Middle East, Mr Kamal Vachani, said.
“Thus, the event provides the participating Indian ICT companies opportunities for scouting the expanding, burgeoning Middle East market,” he added.
Participating Indian companies under ESC’s banner have reportedly bagged significant businesses and formed joint ventures and marketing tie-ups. As many as 40 Indian ICT companies are exhibiting at the India Pavilion, which indicates the growing interest of Indian companies in the Middle East region, ESC Executive Director, Mr D.K. Sareen, said.
ICT products to be displayed at the India Pavilion include software, power supplies — invertors, UPSes, telecom cables, a range of telecom products and computer hardware products.
Electronics and computer software/services, including IT-enabled services have emerged as a strongest export sector from India, with exports worth an estimated $66.48 billion during 2010-11.
Software and ITeS export accounts for $57 billion and electronics hardware exports are valued at around $8.86 billion.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the event, Indian inventor, Mr Pranav Mistry, wowed audiences with live demonstrations of his human data transfer invention SPARSH, a cloud computing application that allows users to become a physical part of the transfer.
Among his latest prototypes, Mr Mistry has invented a smartphone app that can control all appliances in a house, from changing a TV channel to running a bath at the right temperature in another room.
He said: “The Middle East and India have an inherent quest and curiosity for innovation and are problem solvers at heart. Through the centuries, we have had our own unique problems and have had to overcome them in our own unique way.
From that, there is a natural link to technology and a culture where concepts can become reality. This is a region of innovation.”