Computer 2000, a Middle East information technology distribution and logistics management company, announced yesterday the opening of its regional logistics center in Manama. The move will see the company shifting key elements of its distribution, freight and customer service operations to Bahrain.
“Computer 2000 is dedicated to expanding its Middle East operations, and to delivering ever more effective and efficient services to the companies who depend on us for fast and reliable supply chain management,” stated Steve Lockie, managing director of Computer 2000 Middle East, in a company press release.
“This new hub operation allows us to offer faster deliveries and more reactive services to companies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the Central and Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Computer 2000 is the regional distribution partner for over 20 major international computer hardware and software companies, including Microsoft, Oracle, Novell, Cisco Systems, Intel and Compaq Computer. The company handles product sales, distribution and support services to resellers and solution providers around the region.
“The key to our operations is offering tightly controlled services to resellers, delivering products to our customers on short deadlines and with maximum efficiency. With reseller profitability in IT being a matter of fine judgments, our customers cannot afford to add overhead with their logistics operations and so we aim to take as much of that load off them as we can. This new hub operation will enable us to deliver key new service levels to customers in a number of important, and fast-growing, regional markets,” Lockie said.
Computer 2000 Middle East is a division of the $17 billion Tech Data group, a global provider of IT products, logistics management and other value-added services. The Fortune 500 company and its subsidiaries serve more than 100,000 technology resellers in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Computer 2000's extensive service offering includes pre- and post-sale training and technical support, financing options and distribution and logistics management services.
An important element of the new operation is a Joint venture between ARAMEX International and Kanoo company BICS (Bahrain International Cargo Services). The joint venture utilizes a custom-designed free zone warehouse at the Bahrain airport, through which it manages the complete logistics cycle.
“ARAMEX and BICS have unique experience of handling the movement of goods through Bahrain, and we welcomed the challenge of working with high volumes of high-value IT equipment destined for multiple markets,” said BICS general manager Mohammed Al Fardan.
“This is an important move forwards for Bahrain as the country moves to attract more information technology businesses to invest here,” he added.
ARAMEX, a provider of express transportation solutions in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, will handle the shipping and freight handling between Computer 2000’s warehouses in Dubai to the Bahraini facility, and then out to the markets being serviced by the Bahrain hub.
“Fast, effective and reliable delivery are key to Computer 2000’s business and to its customers,” said Mr Safwan Tannir, senior vice president cargo at ARAMEX. “We are proud to be able to offer Computer 2000 the highest quality of service and support available, to demanding deadlines and in very high volumes.”
The new Bahraini operation marks the first regional hub operation established by Computer 2000 outside of its Dubai-based regional headquarters, and forms part of an aggressive regional expansion plan designed to take the company's services physically closer to IT product and service suppliers based in the fast-growing IT markets of the Middle East.
The company plans a significant expansion of its business in surrounding markets as a result of establishing the new hub operation.
The choice of Bahrain as the first hub was made because of the country's location, but also because of the stable business environment, physical infrastructure and the flexible approach of the Bahraini authorities.
"We have been delighted with how hard everyone has worked to make this move as simple and hassle-free as possible. This is an important move for us, and millions of dollars worth of business is being placed via this operation already. We have absolute confidence and faith in Bahrain as a business location, and look forward to a continuing and rich relationship with the government of Bahrain,” Lockie stated. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
