dubai world trade centre launches first-ever ‘gitex technology week global conference’
IBM-sponsored conference program to feature key seminars and strategic sessions that address hot topics and best practices within ICT industry
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) recently announced the launch of the GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK Global Conference, the inaugural series of strategic seminars and dynamic networking sessions to take place throughout GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, 8-12 September 2007.
Top industry figures will engage audiences with progressive forums designed to address a range of critical topics within the region’s evolving ICT community, sharing invaluable knowledge about the most important needs of the industry.
DWTC is working closely with platinum sponsor IBM in attracting some of the top CEO’s and strategic decision-makers to the conferences, providing participants with the rare opportunity to learn from, and exchange views with, some of the leading experts within the ICT industry.
“GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK Global Conferences is a series of seminars and networking sessions that will facilitate knowledge transfer within the rapidly developing ICT industry. As one of the most established, yet innovative companies operating within the computer technology arena, we are delighted to have IBM on board with this exciting new element of the show,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK.
Kicking off the program on the 8th of September is a keynote speech featuring top IBM Worldwide Executive Al Zollar, a respected industry authority who will provide a high-level perspective of the key issues within the ICT industry.
IBM is intensifying its commitment to building platforms for direct dialogue with customers in the Middle East region, and as the conference platinum sponsor of the first official GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK Global Conference they see the conference as a perfect tool to complement this strategy.
“GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK is the premier forum for building dialogue between professionals in the Middle East business technology space and we see the conference as a major opportunity to further that dialogue,” said Takreem El-Tohamy, General Manager of IBM Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan.
Following on from the keynote address, a series of daily CxO power lunches have been designed to identify critical management issues and offer peer-level networking opportunities. Industry-specific sessions covering various themes are to include: Keeping pace with growth: focus on Public Sector, Customer first: Focus on Banking and Finance, Next generation services: Telecoms, and Emerging Technology as a Business Enabler.
Another key feature throughout the week is a group of ‘Head to Head Industry Debates’, which will bring together key stakeholders to explore some of the critical technology issues they face in an ever-changing business environment. These panel discussions aim to initiate dialogue around timely questions including Buy or build, Captive or outsourced, and IT: a profit centre or cost centre.
Complementing the series is the SMB Roundtable, which will focus on the needs of Small Medium Businesses by encouraging interaction between business executives, IT Managers, and a group of leading panellists, in an interactive Q&A format.
This targeted programme further strengthens GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK’s position as the most innovative edition to date. This year’s sold-out event is also bigger than last year’s show in terms of space utilization, as companies look to creatively utilize the full capacity of the venue in order to maximize impact.
Some of the world’s leading IT companies are out in full force this year including Acer, CA, Cisco, du, etisalat, Hewlett Packard, BIM, i-Mate, Intel, Oracle, Panasonic, Samsung, SAP, Sun MicroSystems, Sony and Trend Micro. These industry trend-setters are looking forward to elaborate and creative product launches, along with innovative customer experiences.
“We have long been ardent supporters of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK and consider it the premier annual meeting point for the region’s decision makers in technology and business information systems. That commitment to the show from IBM, of course, not only continues, but strengthens year on year,” concluded El-Tohamy.
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK Global Conferences is working with conference management partner Corporate Publishing International (CPI), the region’s leading publisher of IT titles and partner of IDG, the world’s largest IT publishing organization.
All sessions are free to GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK trade visitors and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will run from 8-12 September 2007 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) featuring three dedicated industry events: GITEX Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS and Consumer Electronics, and will be held in association with GITEX Shopper, which takes place from the 6-12 September 2007 at the Airport Expo Dubai.
