More than 50 software companies led by India's Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council will participate in Gitex 2004, the Middle East's premier Information Technology show to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre Complex next month.
"This year, it will be one of the largest participation by Indian IT companies in any IT event around the world during 2004," Kamal Vachani, Regional Director of ESC for the UAE and Middle East, said.
The Indian Pavilion will be almost 20 per cent bigger than last year with more than 20 Indian companies taking part for the first time.
"To maintain cost effective solutions, companies the world over have evinced interest in products and solutions available in India and the Middle East markets hold tremendous potential for Indian companies."
"The Indian IT industry continues to make inroads into the fields of communication, governance, hotels, travel, transport and petroleum and the Gitex offers the appropriate platform for Indian companies," Vachani said.
India's export of electronics and computer software services accounts for over 15 per cent of the total exports.
Export of electronics and computer software services touched $14.28 billion during the year 2003-04, he said.
In the past few years, India has emerged as one of the major suppliers of electronics and IT products and services to the global markets, Vachani said.
The five-day mega show will begin on October 3.
Vachani said skilled managerial and technical manpower provides India with the distinct cutting edge in global competition.
Sooraj Dhawan, a spokesperson for the participating Indian companies, said with over 75,000 trade buyers from all over the world, GITEX offers unbeatable networking and client interfacing opportunities for Indian companies.
He said this was the reason why Indian participation at GITEX Dubai continues to soar year after year.
"The brilliant business platform offered by GITEX to Indian companies has encouraged repeat participation from Indian ICT majors like Wipro Ltd, Moser Baer International Ltd, Wings Infonet Ltd, Zenith Computers Ltd, Exon Technologies Ltd, Bhansali Udyog Ltd, MWTI, Net4India Ltd, Matrix Infosystems Ltd, Newgen Software Technologies Ltd, and many more."
He said various Indian states will also be showcasing Indian ICT investment opportunities at the show.
A spokesperson for the Dubai World Trade Centre, the organizers of GITEX 2004, said British, Taiwanese, Korean and Chinese pavilions would each have their strongest representation to date with many top companies confirming their presence at the region's leading IT exhibition.
According to statistics released by the International Data Corp, IT spending across the region this year has been estimated at $4.2 billion, while spending was expected to increase to $7.9 billion next year with a year-on-year growth of approximately 15 per cent.
