Kingdom of Saudi Arabia acknowledged the potential of ICT industry with the Shura Council eyeing to raise the industry’s contribution to the level of 20 per cent of national GDP by 2020. Reaffirming the government’s robust ICT outlook, recent studies have projected Saudi Arabia’s software market to reach a value of USD 675 million during the current year, up from USD 611 million in 2010 and poised to maintain a healthy growth rate in the succeeding years, while the IT services market is expected to reach USD 1.1 billion this year and sustain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9 per cent during the 2011 – 2015 period.
Gitex in Saudi Arabia has been expanded in recent years and in year 2011 Gitex Saudi Arabia has enhanced to feature a more comprehensive range of IT solutions that complement the robust market forecast. Driven by the proactive efforts of the government to boost investments in the ICT sector, organizers of Gitex Saudi Arabia 2011 have revealed that several first-time exhibitors have already confirmed their participation at the event, which will run from May 16 to 19, 2011, at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Shura Council has signified that ICT development initiatives will remain among its top priorities within the coming years and this reassurance has certainly boosted the confidence of key players in the Saudi ICT sector.
Moreover, the enthusiasm towards the growth prospects of the Saudi ICT market is clearly manifested in this year’s GITEX Saudi Arabia, which is witnessing a surge in interest from regional and global exhibitors. In this regard, we have prepared extensively to provide a genuinely conducive platform for trade buyers and suppliers to interact and discuss business across a diverse range of sectors, including oil and gas, financial services, healthcare, education and communications,” said Shahid Bhatti, Project Manager-Gitex Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Exhibitions Company.
Organized under the patronage and support of The Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT), GITEX Saudi Arabia 2011 will gather exhibitors from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia.
The leading ICT trade show will run concurrently with Saudi Communications 2011, the 13th International Telecommunications Exhibition, certified by UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and Computer Shopper 2011, the 10th Computer Shopper Exhibition.
Gitex Saudi Arabia, Saudi Shopper and Saudi Communications 2011 will jointly display ICT products, services and systems, telecommunications equipment; networking and IT solutions and software; office automation; the latest personal computers and laptops, mobile phones, multimedia devices and digital products. The back-to-back trade shows will also feature technology-enabled educational and entertainment devices.
