Exceptional Surge in Trade Visitors at GITEX 2003

The 23rd edition of GITEX will go down in the annals of Dubai's exhibition industry history as the most successful ever with deals, launches and business galore and a remarkable surge in trade visitors from 65,000 in 2002 to 82,183 in 2003 recording an exceptional surge of 26% according to organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

"GITEX 2003 has lived up to its promise as the most effective forum for IT professionals in the region and delivered successfully as exhibitors reported higher number of visitors, serious inquiries, deals and business in large numbers," said DWTC Director General, Mubarak bin Fahad.

He noted that the event has made great strides in 2003 and played a significant role in contributing towards the all-encompassing vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of converting the emirate into the Silicon Valley of the Middle East.

"The large attendance from regional and international trade visitors as preliminary figures on the final day come in confirm that GITEX has been an out-and-out success and a number of the exhibitors have already displayed their eagerness for participating in 2004," Mr. bin Fahad confirmed.

Several VIP visits including tours by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the President of India, HE Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and many others added to the enthusiasm of both participating exhibitors and visitors to the event.

AGiLiENCE ME, the provider of XML-technology & solutions for eEmployee- and eCustomer-services, successfully concluded several agreements with regional resellers and distributors.

Cirrus Software Labs FZ LLC (CSL), an established IT company with multiple business lines covering packaged products, offshore software development services and custom application projects, launched its business intelligence Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution- Cirrussoft.net at the exhibition.

HP announced a new regional customer for HP Superdome Servers and Mission Critical Support services within banking at GITEX 2003. This IT initiative between HP and Arab National Bank (ANB) solidifies a 10-year technology partnership where the bank's management has seen the clear value of advanced technology and the benefits it has provided the bank, their customers and their employees.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC), a leading international IT company and one of the top four IT vendors in the region, announced the appointment of Redington Gulf as a distributor for its range of products in Nigeria, during GITEX Dubai 2003. 

Solutions Middle East launched Vista suite of SMS solutions to complete their entire suite of messaging solutions. Vista Web2SMS is a browser-based application, which enable users to send either a single or multiple messages from their desktop. Using Vista web2SMS one can send personalized SMS messages as and when required.

Canon Middle East announced the latest model of its ground breaking multifunction colour copiers, the new imageRUNNER iR C3200, aimed specifically at the production and graphic arts environments.

Canon also smashed the world record by printing the world's longest single-file print at GITEX 2003. This was achieved on the 44" wide bubble jet colour graphics printer, the W8200, the latest in Canon's lineup of wide format printers. The 44 meter long, 44 inch wide, 1200 dpi mega-print was produced at the Canon stand at GITEX 2003, in front of a host of visitors, government officials and press.

Emachine FZE, the Jebel Ali based Middle East regional office of the Canadian company Canada Emachine Corp., chose GITEX Dubai 2003 as its official launch pad for its innovative array of eCube, Amigo and PowerBox PCs. 

Sun Microsystems Middle East & North Africa unveiled new integrated solutions at GITEX 2003, with live online demonstrations of the SAP IS Retail  solution and an advance preview of the new SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0, powered by Sun platforms. Sun also came together with Oracle to emphasize the strength of their technology partnership, with particular emphasis placed upon Sun's support for Oracle's recently-launched Database 10g, the first database technology to take full advantage of Sun's new data center environment.

Acer Computers (M.E.) Ltd. further accelerated its position in the Middle East mobile computing market with the unveiling at GITEX 2003 of the Acer Ferrari 3000.

EPSON, one of the world's leading PC peripheral manufacturers and the global leader in digital imaging solutions, launched at GITEX Dubai 2003, two new models of its Stylus range of three-in-one printers. The new range incorporates multi functional advantages like printing, scanning and copying facilities, in one device.

The latest addition to LG Electronics' market leading range of optical storage devices (OSD) made its debut at GITEX 2003. The world's first multi-format DVD re-writer, the LG Super-Multi, is set to further strengthen the global and regional digital leader's OSD line-up. The global and regional digital leader, LG also strengthened its regional offering of LCD and CRT monitors by adding a further five new models to its market leading regional Flatron line-up.

Palm, Inc. announced at GITEX, a dazzling array of accessories perfect for gift-giving. Available from October 21st in consumer-electronics outlets and major retail chains across the Middle East and at GITEX Shopper, the new line of accessories includes an innovative wireless infrared (IR) keyboard; a multifunction stylus; six stylish handheld cases; a plug-and-play, 1.3 megapixel camera card ; handheld protection products; and complete accessory kits.

Samsung Electronics, a regional and global leader in digital technology, showcased at GITEX the region's first superior VGA-camera mobile phone, E-700 capable of taking pictures in the dark.

Unveiling the global brand slogan 'Panasonic ideas for life' for the first time at GITEX Dubai 2003 show, Panasonic exhibited the latest products in entertainment and business system solutions, under the theme 'Panasonic ideas for life' at GITEX 2003.

Etisalat's Internet division, EIM, demonstrated new wireless hotspots at GITEX. They're seen as ways to provide broadband to parts of the UAE that existing networks don't reach.

Dubai Internet City (DIC) launched its Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC) service, while wireless major SENAO announced a foray into Iraq market with new cutting-edge wireless solutions.

Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) today unveiled a new range of its business applications at Gitex 2003 while Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) showcased its next generation of mobile phones.

i-mate, world specialist in end-to-end wireless device solutions, underlined its presence at Gitex with the introduction of the newest member of the i-mate  group of products, the i-mate Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Phone Edition.

Meanwhile the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced full hotel occupancy in Dubai hotels during the week of the on-going Gulf Information Technology Exhibition 2003 (GITEX). An official from the DTCM said that this kind of steady flow in terms of hotel occupancy would guarantee a record growth in the number of hotel guests at the end of the year.

The success of GITEX 2003 has been unparalleled and the event has also attracted significant media interest and thereby more attention. The DWTC set up a state-of-the-art media centre at the venue for bona fide journalists  covering GITEX 2003.

 The event attracted the avid interest of a number of media personnel with more than 750 local, regional and international journalists covering the event representing print, broadcast and new media. The versatile and state of the art media centre offered both local and visiting media with an ideal workspace complete with computers and office automation sponsored by HP and networking sponsored by Bond Communications.

The success of GITEX 2003 has also ensured stronger participation at GITEX Hyderabad as Canadian company Talafone - a global leader in telecommunications and IP voice technology - has booked an entire exhibition  hall measuring 2,000 square metres of gross floor space at GITEX Hyderabad 2004 (12th to 14th January).

"GITEX is destined to play a significant role in the region's burgeoning IT economy and will continue to win the loyal support of exhibitors and sponsors and provide IT professionals in the entire region with a must-attend business forum," concluded Mr. bin Fahad while announcing the dates for  GITEX 2004 from October 4th to 8th.