Mega IT exhibition opens in Hyderabad

Monday, 12 January 2004, 20:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: Microsoft, HSBC, Reliance and Dubai Internet City are among 80 information and communication technology (ICT) firms participating at the global IT exhibition GITEX here. The three-day event, organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and displaying the latest technology and services, got under way Monday at Hitex, the exhibition centre in Hitec City near here. After the inauguration, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that from next year participants in the exhibition would be exempted from sales tax. "This announcement will definitely provide further support to the show and encourage buyers and sellers," Abdulla T. Qassem, the DWTC general manager, exhibitions, leasing and operations, told IANS. This is the third consecutive year that DWTC is holding in Hyderabad its flagship event, which is basically a business-to-business platform for trade professionals. The organisers have introduced a new component, GITEX Computer Shopper, this year to attract consumers looking to purchase computer equipment and electronic gadgetry for their personal use. GITEX - the show is held every year in different cities of the Middle East - was first launched here in 2002 with 36 exhibitors. The show this year has 80 exhibitors, including seven from the Gulf region, and an exhibition space of 1,400 square metres. "The day is not far when the Hyderabad event will match and even outgrow GITEX Dubai," Qassem told reporters. He said the conduct of GITEX here had helped attract Indian firms and multinational companies (MNCs) to the shows in Dubai and other parts of the Middle East. He said GITEX Hyderabad provides ICT companies opportunities to conduct business and network with key players from local, regional and international IT markets. The second edition attracted large participation from over 70 IT companies primarily because it brought exhibitors in contact with 4,500 trade visitors from the government and industry globally. Qassem, however, declined to say anything on the business being generated during the show. The state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have also set up stalls at the exhibition, displaying their IT initiatives in the area of citizen services. Since the second Asia IT Ministers' summit and a national seminar by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) are being held concurrently with the show, Qassem hoped it would further boost the event.
Source: IANS
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