Published: Sunday, October 16, 2011
DUBAI — GITEX Technology Week concluded on Thursday with better than expected results as exhibitors announced strong return on investment and global companies record up to 50 per cent increase in quality business.
From first time exhibitors to long-term stalwarts of the event, it surpassed even the highest expectations in 2011. From tangible deals conducted onsite to new partnerships and future business, exhibitor feedback has reinforced the Dubai-based event as the most influential ICT exhibition in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia and one of the top three in the world, according to organiser of the show.
Many of the participants, which included the world’s most illustrious technology companies, recorded some of their best Returns on Investment (ROI) at the event with a substantial increase in footfall from C-level visitors and decision makers.
“The ICT industry in the Middle East is one of the fastest growing in the world and GITEX provides global exhibitors and visitors with direct access to an unrivalled number of decision makers, facilitating an exceptional volume of business as seen in 2011,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai World Trade Centre, Organiser of the event.
The event was punctuated by a raft of new launches, partnerships and deals with many companies reporting their most successful participation at GITEX yet.
For Kodak, GITEX 2011 presented the best exhibition return on investment of the year and strengthened Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading business destinations.“ In one day at GITEX, we had more visitor traffic at the Kodak stand than in one week during CeBIT and DMS EXPO,” said Jork Beuck, IBML Manager of Product Marketing, EMEA, Kodak.
For NEC Solutions, 2011 has also been an exceptional GITEX. Frits Neyndorf, VP NEC Middle East and Africa described the event as “excellent”. He added: This is the best show in years. We met with high quality new visitors and potential customers, leading to confirmed new orders.”
Symantec chose the expo for the regional launch of its new endpoint protection 12 software for cloud security. “GITEX consistently delivers the highest standards provides us with an immense return on investment year-on-year,” said Johnny Karam, MENA Managing Director of Symantec.
Anthony Peter, Director, Direct Communication and Customer Care Group, Panasonic Middle East said: “I would say that business conducted has been up by around 50 per cent this year and by the end of the second day, we recorded an increase in footfall of around 130 per cent on last year.”
Etisalat also took full advantage of GITEX’s unique position in the region. “By the end of GITEX Technology week, Etisalat will have signed more than 15 strategic agreements with large corporations, ranging from banks to governmental institutions in both the ICT field and beyond,” said Jaber Al Janahi, Vice President – Corporate Communications.
Promate Technologies had their largest GITEX presence ever this year and during the last four days of the event took a record amount of orders from existing customers and signed contracts with new clients across the region.
“Our sales have surpassed all our expectations for GITEX 2011. We had already broken even by the end of day one, something which never occurred even in the boom times pre global recession,” said Fadi Khalil, Director of Sales, Promate Technologies Middle East.