aking place at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre between April 8 and 10 next year, Gulf ICT will showcase the latest in technology, from business processes to digital equipment.
"The demand for Information Communication Technology (ICT) products across the Middle East is increasing at an annual rate of almost 17 per cent with spending in this sector predicted to reach $16.8 billion by 2009," said Mr Milne.
The kingdom also has a strong lead in conventional communications, he said.
"Bahrain itself has more mobile phones than people. The kingdom had the highest mobile phone penetration rate and second highest Internet user penetration rate in the Arab world in 2006. The mobile penetration rate has reached 150pc with 900,000 mobiles in use."
Earlier, the kingdom's chief telecoms regulator said Bahrain should look to the example of the G8 nations, where IT is not only a significant industry in its own right, but is also a powerful enabler of economic growth.
As much as 40pc of productivity growth in the EU, and 45pc of growth in South Korea can be attributed to ICT, said Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) general director Alan Horne.
"The ability to take advantage of opportunities provided by ICT sector could significantly influence growth of the economy of Bahrain, and growth in prosperity of all citizens.
"An effective ICT sector is of significant importance in the Gulf region. Most of the regional economies face a necessity to diversify themselves by decreasing dependency on income from scarce natural resources and by using the prosperity achieved in order to guarantee continuous long-term wellbeing for their citizens," said Mr Horne.
However, the kingdom needs to ensure it distinguishes itself from its rivals, he said.
"It is important to ensure that future policies take into account the regional and global developments in ensuring that Bahrain is not offering "more of the same", but rather uses its position of a small and one of the most liberal, open and easy-to-invest-in countries within a significant and increasingly important region, which shares a common history, traditions, culture and language."
The TRA is one of the main supporters of the Gulf ICT event, which will focus not only on IT development in Bahrain, but the surrounding region.
In particular, the event aims to target the Saudi market and the northern Gulf - markets not catered for adequately by existing exhibitions in Dubai such as GITEX.
"Saudi Arabia alone, which is the largest IT market in the region, accounts for nearly 45 per cent of IT spending and the northern Gulf markets of Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar (together with Oman) represent a further 20pc of IT spending in the region," said Mr Milne.
Major ICT developments in neighbouring Saudi Arabia include the construction of the $50bn King Abdullah Economic City, the world's first "Smart City".
"This means that approximately 60pc of all IT spending is concentrated in and immediately around Bahrain, making Bahrain a superb location for an IT and communications related show," said Mr Milne.
The growth in spending on IT is not restricted to the private sector, he said.
"e-government projects throughout the region are increasing, with the Bahrain government launching a number of initiatives. The Saudi government has also announced plans to spend $800 million on a comprehensive e-government project.
"Spending on security software and appliances in the GCC exceeded $110m in 2005 and was expected to have reached over $150m last year. The banking sector was the largest source of demand for security software and appliances in the Gulf states.
"FM radio stations are also expected to see a boom in the region. There are currently over 220 radio stations in the Arab region and the number is expected to increase sharply.
"Whilst the PDA market is projected to grow by 40pc this year, smart phones integrating PDA functionalities, such as Blackberry, will grow by up to 80pc, driven by business users wanting access to computing and communication functionality on the go.
"Market penetration of mobile e-mail could reach as high as 70pc of mobile professionals by the end of this year."
Gulf ICT is being organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions which has over many years been responsible for business to business exhibitions throughout the GCC.
In Bahrain, HCE has staged gulfBid the Gulf's Building, Interior and Design exhibition for the past two years in co-operation with dmg media, one of the world's most successful exhibition organisers. In January next year, HCE will be launching the Gulf Industry Fair in co-operation with Hannover Messe organisers of the world famous Hannover Fair.
Gulf ICT will be HCE's third exhibition in Bahrain and will benefit from the same level of professional expertise that each of our trade exhibitions has been noted for. Gulf ICT will also benefit from the support of TRA, which has been responsible for liberalising and in many ways revolutionising the kingdom's telecommunications sector - an integral part of the ICT industry.
Gulf ICT represents a wonderful opportunity for companies involved in the sector to participate in a show which will be in the right place, at the right time and organised by the right company.
Quelle/Source: Gulf Daily News, 20.06.2007
