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ICT Professionals from 150 Countries Engage with Global Thought Leaders from 3,700 Companies
Official Country Partner Nigeria Serves as Africa's Gateway for Technology Investment
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
GITEX Technology Week – the leading ICT event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) – opens tomorrow (SUNDAY OCTOBER 12) with the world's largest brands unveiling new products, services and the latest Smart technologyas international business decision-makerscome together to share transformational developments, opportunities and challenges facing the region's ICT sector.
The 34th edition of GITEX Technology Week will bringmore than 100,000 ICT professionals from 150 countries to Dubai World Trade Centre(DWTC) from 12-16 October, as 3,700 exhibiting companies from 61 countriesshare transformational developments across the show's four knowledge themes: Smart, Cloud, Big Data and Mobility.
Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC, said: “In recent years Smart, Cloud, Big Data and Mobility have evolved from industry buzzwords to key knowledge themes that can deliver real ROI for companies and organisations of all sizes. GITEX Technology Week is the idea platform to deliver ICT thought leadership and business development for all attendees - whether they come from small businesses, multinational corporations or government agencies. GITEX Technology Week is the only event in the MEASA region that delivers both the depth of understanding and industry engagement required to make the most of these cutting-edge technologies.''
Buoyed by region-wide investment in Smart technology spending and infrastructure spending by the government sector — the largest and fastest growing vertical market according to IDC - the region's ICT market is set to jump from a projected USD15 billion in 2014 to USD20 billion in 2020.
With Smart technologies a cornerstone focus at this year's show, GITEX Technology Week will present strategic investment inroads into the lucrative Middle East and African ICT markets – many of which offer nascent opportunities for global Smart technology providers.Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, population and high-growth ICT market, is serving as the show's Official Country Partner. Nigeria has 120 million mobile users and 87 per cent mobile penetration by population, according to IDC.
As Dubai's Smart City roll-out is predicted to catalyse an acceleration of Smart City initiatives in other GCC
Countries, GITEX Technology Weekwill showcase a pioneering app-based Smart Journey Tour featuring 26 Smart technology leaders showcasing cutting-edge products and the entities responsible for assimilating them into wider society and government e-services.
As the show's Official Smart Experience Partner, Etisalat is collaborating with GITEX Technology Week to provide visitors with a seamless and paperless registration process –one aspect of a new ‘On Track for the Smart Experience' initiative that aims to evolve the attendee journey by integrating the latest ICT innovations such as smart networking and interactive navigation and marketing. Other key elements include live blogs in English & Arabic, strategically-placed advanced Bluetooth technology-enabled iBeacons and interactive way-finding touch screens to further improvevisitors' networking and connectivity potential.
Elsewhere, the Big Data Conference on 14 October will educate on how Big Data can deliver new insights and enhance ROI in a global Big Data market poised to jump from USD 3.2 billion in 2013 to USD 15.1 billion by 2020.
On the same day, Cloud Confex returns as the region's largest integrated cloud exhibition and conference. With the GCC cloud computing market due to post seven-fold growth and expand at a CAGR of 32.8% to reach USD 668.5 million by 2020, global leaders in data storage and management will present new cloud-based solutions at GITEX.
The Digital Strategies Forum on 15 October will help organisations use mobility to enhance customer interactions.
Global technology company Ericsson, GITEX GulfComms MEA Headline Sponsor, will demonstrate how mobility will enhance daily lives in Smart Cities.
GITEX Technology Week 2014 will also debut a range of innovative and exciting industry features catering to more than 1500 delegates and 150 speakers including the Cloud Confex, Big Data Conference, and Digital Strategies Forum.
At Industry Briefings - a key component of this year's GITEX Trends – speakers will debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific knowledge platforms; GITEX After 5; the Bloggers Tweetup and Tech Talk Blogger Programme which will double attendance from regional and international 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 ConneXions Lounge and the SME Zone.
In addition to the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards, the GITEXStudent 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.
On the opening day of 12 October, GITEX Technology Week will host Google for Work, the first time the invite-only event, billed as ‘Unleash Your Creativity – Google Style', will be held in the Middle East. Senior management and C-level executives can learn how to tackle complex problems and opportunities, and foster a culture of innovation within their organizations.
For more information on the 34th GITEX Technology Week - running at DWTC from 12-16 October, 2014 - visit: www.gitex.com.
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