Channel Post speaks with Alaa ElShimy, Managing Director & Vice President – Enterprise Business at Huawei Middle East about the company’s participation at GITEX.
How long have you been participating at GITEX Technology Week and what are your takeaways from last year’s event?
Huawei has been participating in GITEX since 2009 and last year’s conference was as exciting as always. We saw a remarkable amount of interest for our new product and solution launches, and partnership announcements with key government and private organizations. GITEX 2016 was the Middle East debut of our KunLun 9032 server (one of just two 32-socket servers then available in the market, focusing on mission-critical computing) and our Cloud Campus Solution (which delivers an open architecture and ecosystem platform that delivers agile, scalable network performance and 24/7 remote maintenance access for true uninterrupted network availability).
These product launches were both a resounding success. Our key takeaway was that organizations in the Middle East are eager for the opportunity to embrace new products and solutions which will allow them to move forward in the process of digitalization. The population here is quick to embrace groundbreaking products and solutions and keen to be at the forefront of technological change, and we at Huawei aim to help them along this process.
What are you most excited about GITEX Technology Week and what are your expectations from this year’s participation?
GITEX offers us a platform to showcase Huawei’s ‘platform + ecosystem’ portfolio of innovations designed to equip Middle East organizations for the next big step on the road to digital transformation. We are excited to demonstrate not only the power of global technology platforms through the latest IOT, cloud, SDN and Big Data innovations, but also the digital ecosystem of collaboration through path-breaking business and technology alliances, and the latest co-created solutions from OpenLab Dubai.
We expect GITEX 2017 to be an opportunity to meet with government and industry leaders from across the Middle East. We hope to demonstrate how Huawei’s products and solutions can support national visions for digitalization, and show that our technological capabilities can assist organizations along the path to digital transformation.
Additionally, this year we are excited to be hosting our second annual Innovation Day, with the theme “Exploration, Lights the Way Forward”. Innovation Day will explore the role of ICT in driving digital transformation and building sustainable knowledge-based economies in the Middle East.
Huawei will use this platform to showcase its leadership in transforming the digital ecosystem and developing sustainable, smart cities through cutting edge technology, strategic partnerships, OpenLabs, and critical CSR programmes. In support of the theme of exploration, which falls in line with its regional vision to the build most advanced knowledge-based economies in the world, we will be issuing a research report which studies the impact of digital technologies on the transformation of economies in the Middle East.
What technology trends have you seen in the Middle East and Africa market?
Governments across the Middle East and Africa have embraced digital transformation through their national agendas and organizations are reinventing their business models through digital strategies. All-cloud, or the full ‘cloudification’ of networks, operations systems, and services, is the most effective enabler to bring the digital vision into reality. Huawei will showcase how its cloud solutions can help the Middle East achieve digitalization.
Do you have standalone presence at the event or will you be showcasing with your partner(s)? Can you give us details of your hall and booth at the event?
We will have our own booth at Z-D20 in Za’abeel Hall. Additionally, we will be hosting Innovation Day Zone B, Maktoum Hall, under the theme “Exploration, Lights the Way Forward.” The event will offer industry luminaries a platform to meet and discuss the big changes that lie ahead as the ICT industry ushers in a new, Smart Society.
