GITEX 2016 had recently launched the most global startup movement with over 400 entrepreneurs, 250 regional, global VCs and investors/mentors from 60 countries. Participating startups showcased their concepts, engaged in mentor sessions, Startupers pitched in to win a competition and learn at the conference sessions with start-up heroes. GITEX is sharing with you the revolutionary and disruptive minds and supporting you throughout your entrepreneurship journey through access to investments, business and a chance to work in partnership with the most influential industry leaders from the technology community.
The good news is that ICT spending in the MENA region is set to hit 150BN by 2017. That means, businesses of all shapes and sizes are upgrading their systems, investing in technical expertise and becoming technology led organisations.
At the epicenter of this growth has been GITEX Technology Week. There’s a reason that year on year visitors from across the globe return to GITEX for their technology needs.
Bahrain in GITEX 2016
Bahrain was all set to participate in this great event. A total of 29 Bahraini companies participated within the Bahraini national pavilion for GITEX 2016 exhibition, which was held in Dubai, according to Work Smart, in cooperation with the Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH). “12 Bahraini IT companies confirmed also participated in Bahraini national pavilion for GITEX 2016,” said Mr. Ahmed Hujairi, CEO “Work Smart”.
These included Batelco, Kanoo IT, Gulf CX, Al Amthal, Microcenter, Almoayyed Computers, Continental Equipment and Systems, Etisalcom, Silah Gulf, Computer World, Alnadeem IT and Ahlia University. This implies an increase of 15 per cent compared to last year’s edition, which saw the participation of 24 Bahraini companies along with three government entities including the Economic Development Board (EDB), E-government and Tamkeen.
The main goal since the start of the Bahraini participation in GITEX was to record the country’s presence in this international forum for information technology manufacturers around the world. “Today, after 10 years of active participation, our goals became clearer and bigger. We aim to strengthen the “ICT” industry in Bahrain, raising the share of Bahraini companies from 6pc to 10pc in the IT investments markets in the Arabian Gulf, which reached around US$30 billion,” Al-Hujairi explained.
He pointed out that the company was keen, as it always does, to choose a perfect location for the pavilion in the exhibition.
It is worth mentioning that more than 30,000 visitors visited the Bahraini pavilion last year. Bahrainis, Arabs, foreigners as well as delegations from major companies in the world were among the visitors.
A large number of decision-makers at global companies paid regular visits to the Bahraini pavilion. A total of 20 agreements were signed between Bahraini companies and other participating companies during the last year’s exhibition.
The kingdom participated in GITEX along with 100 other countries from across the globe exhibiting a total of 3,500 brands.
The participating companies offered their technical services and products to more than 140,000 expected visitors for the exhibition, including 22,000 executives and decision-makers.
“GITEX offers an annual opportunity for the Bahrain’s IT companies to showcase their products in regional and global markets, and the chance to develop these products in line with developments in telecommunications and information industry in the region and the world,” remarked Ahmed Al Hujairi, the chief executive of Work Smart.
“In addition to this, the chance of finding agents for these products around the world is available on the one hand, and the chance to represent international companies which are looking for a foothold in the Bahraini market on the other,” he pointed out.
The main goal since the start of the Bahraini participation in GITEX was to record Bahraini presence in this international forum for information technology manufacturers around the world.