DWTC & GOAP Sign MOU To Renew Commitment To GITEX India

Organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), with the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s (GOAP’s) Information Technology & Communications Department, renewing their commitment to organising GITEX in India for the fifth consecutive year in January 2006 (11th to 13th).

"We took the GITEX brand outside the Middle East, for the very first time in 2002 and marked the introduction of a new era in the history of our organisation," said DWTC General Manager, Abdulla Qassem after signing the MOU.

He noted that Hyderabad was chosen as a venue, as it was one of the most happening IT cities in India backed by the active support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GOAP). "The Indian IT market is worth US$25 billion and continues to grow at the rate of 21% annually. India offers a vast potential that is expected to cross US$65 billion by 2009," Mr. Qassem remarked.

"We are set for the fifth edition of the event that has outgrown its role as a regional exhibition. The show covers a much greater expanse and attracts exhibitors from around the country as well as international exhibitors," he said.

Last year’s event drew in exhibitors and delegations from Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Oman, Pennsylvania (USA), South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the UAE. "It makes sound sense for us to re-brand the exhibition in light of its increasing size, scale and geographic extent. In conjunction with the Government of AP’s IT&C Department, we announce the emergence of GITEX Hyderabad to GITEX India," Mr. Qassem stated.

Speaking on behalf of the GOAP, Mrs. K. Ratna Prabha (IAS), Secretary to the GOAP IT&C Department, said: "The state of AP is an established information technology market and a leading source of high quality technical manpower, which together with good infrastructure, moderate cost of living, political stability and a clean and green environment, has helped in attracting large numbers of global IT majors into Andhra Pradesh in less than a decade."

"As a state, AP has successfully used IT to attain a position of leadership and excellence in the region and more importantly, has managed to spread the reach of IT beyond the city of Hyderabad itself. We are now involved in developing facilities state wide to include second-tier cities such as Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Warangal and Tirupati," Mrs. Prabha remarked.

"The signing of the MOU reinforces our commitment to GITEX, a show that delivers measurable results while offering exhibitors a solid platform to conduct business transactions and showcase their tech innovations," Mrs. Prabha said while appealing to exhibitors to participate in India.

IT majors such as Microsoft, Satyam, BenQ, Siemens, Acer, Brother, Visual Soft, Sierra Atlantic, Dubai Internet City, Olympus, ADP Wilco, Rittal, Remittag, Infotech, Zoom Technologies and RAM have participated at GITEX Hyderabad last year.

Connecticut-based Gartner Inc. - a leading research and consulting services provider to the global IT industry - predicted that Hyderabad would surpass Bangalore and Chennai as an IT destination by 2010.

Along with the main event, Shopper India, the retail arm of GITEX India, will be held simultaneously in a dedicated hall at the HITEX International Exhibition Centre. GITEX India Shopper will also host leading local and regional vendors offering some of the best deals on computer hardware, software, peripherals, multimedia and a wide range of computer products and services.

During the last event GITEX Shopper Hyderabad generated retail sales of more than INR 30 million.

Last year, the event registered a growth of 26% (7,938) in trade visitors while general public registrations crossed the 17,250 mark.

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a major destination for innovative technologies, offshore services and widely recognized as the back office to the world. BPO to KPO, Services to Applications, Technology to R&D, Design to FAB, EMS to Telecom and Animation to Gaming are the range of the global ICT industry sectors currently operating in the state.

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