Regional ICT Spending Projected To Hit US$ 20 Billion By 2020
Leading ICT Event in MEASA Highlights Huge Investment Potential for Multinational Companies and Home-grown Technology Entrepreneurs Eyeing Emerging Growth Markets.
With regional ICT spending projected to cross US$ 15 billion this year and hit US$ 20 billion by 2020 (Source: International Data Corporation), this year’s GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK – the largest ICT event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) – is primed to solidify its position as the premier gateway to the world’s fastest-growing and investment-rich ICT markets.
Positive spend in the developing regional ICT market has spurred exhibitor demand to an all-time high and the majority of floor space at the region’s most important marketplace to showcase cutting-edge trends and agendas is already sold out. The significant demand increase has yielded early commitments from new country pavilions including the Czech Republic, Singapore and Switzerland. Africa, a huge ICT growth market, is strongly represented this year with Nigeria selected as the show’s Official Country Partner.
With Ericsson, Philips, Redington, Sage, AT&T, Equinix and many more leading international brands already on-board, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will feature the world’s top ICT brands in 12 sector-specific technology industries supporting four industry-leading themes: Smart, Cloud, Big Data andMobility.
Spanning more than 100,000 square metres of exhibition space, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK – returning to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 12-16 October, 2014 – will gather more than 142,000 ICT professionals, 25,000 C-level executives and over 3,700 exhibitors from 61 countries.
“GITEX Technology Week continues to evolve year-on-year and this year is no different – our largest show to date will cover every aspect of the global ICT spectrum and showcase a raft of significant technology and mobile innovations that will shape our future societies for decades to come,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, DWTC.
“Our 34th show will host cutting-edge technology demonstrations, engaging conference programmes, wide-ranging discussion forums and unparalleled networking opportunities for tailored sectors across the ICT industry. Exhibitors, visitors and the industry at large can expect a dynamic offering in-line with this year’s governing theme of ‘Reimagining Our Future’.”
As one of the world’s top ICT events and a leading international ICT industry authority, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK continues to enhance cross-border ties in delivering innovation, nurturing investment opportunities and driving the global dialogue on technology adoption across MEASA and beyond. The strategic choice of Nigeria – which has Sub-Saharan Africa’s highest unique mobile subscribers at 48.8 million (Source: GSM Association / GSMA) – as the 2014 show’s Official Country Partner continues the trend.
“Nigeria is home to Africa’s largest economy and population and is one of the continent’s most exciting ICT markets,” said Peter Jack, Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NIDTA). “Nigeria’s ICT growth potential will be amplified via the country’s National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, which aims to enable economic and social development by increasing national 3G wireless coverage to at least 80% of the population by 2018. GITEX Technology Week offers NIDTA a unique platform to highlight Nigeria’s abundant investment opportunities and build networks with potential partners from across the world.”
With GITEX Technology Week presenting strategic investment inroads into the lucrative Middle East and African ICT markets, a host of international exhibitors and visitors will benefit from an evolved attendee experience integrating the latest ICT innovations. The new ‘On Track for the Smart Experience’ initiative will feature paperless mobile registration, smart networking and interactive navigation and marketing.
Elsewhere, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2014 will also debut a range of innovative and exciting industry features including Industry Briefings – a key component of this year’s GITEX Trends – where more than 1500 delegates and 150 speakers will debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific knowledge platforms; Developer Days, a series of dedicated workshops, tech demos, training programmes and networking activities offered by leading OS platforms designed to enhance developers’ in-show experience; a Social Plaza hosting the Influencers’ Reception; the Bloggers Tweetupand Tech Talk Blogger Programme which will double attendance from regional bloggers.
Expanded event features include the official press reception ShowStoppers, online community ConneXions, live streaming of social media, trending topics and tech news via the Content Hub, the 2nd GITEX Hot Stuff Awards recognising top gadgets and GITEX TV – the 53-screen in-house broadcast presence.
Enhanced interactive elements include the GSM Exchange Zone, a platform for the mobile product industry, the C-Level Majlis Lounge for senior executive networking, free Smart Sessions for knowledge-sharing, the Retailers and Distributors Lounge and the SME Zone.
In addition to the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards, the GITEX Student Lab will recognise leading students in the field of technology innovation and connect them with industry professionals, while the 2nd GITEX Cloud Awards will identity and recognise cloud computing excellence in the Middle East and Africa.
On the fringes of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the second edition of the GSMA Mobile 360 Series: Middle East, a dedicated platform for senior executives from the region’s mobile industry, and the fourth edition of InfoComm MEA, the leading showcase of the latest professional audio-visual communications technology in the Middle East and Africa.
