Press Release:
The official inauguration of the Termium-Gitex Beirut information technology exhibition was held on Tuesday, September 19, at 12 noon. The exhibition, located at Beirut Hall in Sin el-Fil will be open to IT professionals from September 19-22 and to the general public September 23 – 24.
Termium, which celebrates its seventh season this year, is working in cooperation with Gitex this year and the organizers of Termium and Gitex – Promofair s.a.l. and the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), with the support of the Lebanese Professional Computer Association (P.C.A.), will collaboratively raise the curtain on Beirut’s largest IT exhibition ever, this week. The exhibition and the PC Shopper will be open daily from 12:00 Noon till 10:00 PM.
“The enthusiasm and excitement our partnership with Termium has helped generate this year is a positive step forward for all those connected with this event. Working in cooperation with Termium, we are striving to strengthen the viability of the IT sector in the Arab world, in general, and in Lebanon and Beirut, in particular. This is an important task and will help the Middle East make its mark in the e-economy of the future. We are determined to ensure the Gitex name continues to serve as a pillar of strength, quality and success in this Middle East’s IT world and hope to secure the loyalty and commitment of IT professionals throughout Egypt, the Levant, the Mediterranean, North Africa and beyond, as well. Our association with the highly acclaimed Termium Beirut supports us in this task,” said Wahid Attalla, General Manager of the Dubai World Trade Center, organizers of Gitex.
Termium-Gitex 2000 will occupy a gross space of 15,000 square meters of exhibition space and 153 exhibitors, representing more than 26 countries will participate in the IT extravaganza. The show has witnessed incredible growth since its inception in 1994.
In 1999, 150 exhibitors representing numerous countries including, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Monaco, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the USA participated in the event which attracted 42,000 visitors. Organizers expect to break that record this year.
Last August, Mid-east Computer Solutions & Systems (MCSS), a Lebanon-based systems integrator and provider of internet-based solutions, and Promofair, announced an agreement to WAP-enable the Termium-Gitex exhibition.
The move ensures full WAP coverage of the event will be available on the Mobilenow WAP Portal, Middle East’s first independent WAP portal. For the duration of the exhibition, information about exhibitors and their products in addition to the news and conference schedules will be available on the Mobilenow WAP portal.
"We are pleased to feature Termium-Gitex on our Portal. This move confirms the leadership of Mobilenow as an independent WAP portal with a strong emphasis on local and regional content," said Naji Rizk, deputy general manager of MCSS.
"Our goal is to maximize the coverage and exposure for our exhibitors and to make it easy for WAP phone users to instantly access information about the event anytime, anywhere. This initiative is perfectly in line with our objectives. We are very proud to make Termium the first WAP-enabled IT event in the Middle East," said Walid Yared, general manager of Promofair.
Termium-Gitex organizers are also launching an exhibition CD this year. Published by IT News, the CD, which is designed to help Termium-Gitex exhibitors market their products and activities to prospective clients, will be distributed to all exhibition visitors. Instead of loading down IT professionals visiting the event with paper: catalogues, brochures, business cards and promotional flyers, exhibitors were encouraged to promote their products and services through the Termium-Gitex 2000 CD.
The Termium-Gitex exhibition will feature a wide range of information and communication technology products and services including automation options, computers, e-commerce and e-business products and services, hardware, peripherals, Internet and online services, multimedia products, office equipment, supplies and furniture, printing technology, security systems and devises, software solutions, training and education options and telecommunications and networking solutions.
Termium-Gitex is expected to attract the participation of decision makers and IT professionals from a wide range of public and private sectors including agriculture, architecture, banking, catering, construction, education, financial, government, insurance, media, medical, retail, telecommunications, tourism, trade and transportation.
