THE 3rd COMDEX Saudi Arabia business-to-business IT exhibition opens at the Jeddah International Exhibition Center (JIEC) today. The show is hosting over 160 exhibitors from 18 countries. COMDEX Saudi Arabia has strong support from leading multinationals, including main sponsors IBM, Microsoft, Samsung and Batelco. The event has been organized under the patronage of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Dabbagh Information Technology (DITevents), Dubai, Tanmiah Commercial Group, Jeddah, and the USA’s Key3Media Inc.

The COMDEX IT exhibition is a main feature of the new Saudi Technology Week created by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Jeddah Marketing Board. JCCI Secretary-General Dr. Majeed Al-Kassabi wrote in the forward of the COMDEX show catalogue: “We have to change the way we (in Saudi Arabia) do business or we simply won’t compete. It is the power and potential behind IT that will lead this change. COMDEX Saudi Arabia will inspire us in the right direction.”

Saudi companies have echoed the chamber’s approach, with extensive participation from major players in the local IT market such as Al-Faisaliah, Alesayi Electronics, Saudi Oger, Hoshan Pan Gulf, Modern Electronics, New Horizons, SAP Arabia and others.

COMDEX Saudi Arabia has new features, which are certain to be popular with attendees. The “New Tech Zone” for prototype or market-entry products has already made a splash with exhibitors.

“By visiting this stand, our professional audience will be able to examine and learn about new IT technologies that will be entering the market later in 2002 — or even in 2003 and 2004,” said COMDEX General Manager Annick Anthierens. “We have offered this free space to exhibitors to encourage them to communicate their future plans to this highly motivated market.”

Such an approach has encouraged expanded support for this year’s event.

“COMDEX Saudi Arabia has continued to improve,” said IBM/SBM Marketing Communications Manager Riad Aoun. “After the response that we had at COMDEX in 2001, we are strongly supporting the third show, this year as a major sponsor.”

COMDEX Saudi Arabia is a trade-only event open to corporate representatives with appropriate identification. The exhibition runs April 1-4 at the JIEC from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Shopper@COMDEX expands

The Shopper@COMDEX consumer computer and software is bigger than ever due to increased demand for space from local resellers. The COMDEX Shopper is located at Al-Hamra Center and it is open through April 4 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. daily.

According to Anthierens, Shopper@COMDEX was moved to its new location this year to provide consumers with adequate parking and to reduce congestion in the areas of both shows by dividing the crowds.

COMDEX conferences at the Jeddah Hilton

The COMDEX conference contribution to Saudi Technology Week consists of the COMDEX Infosecurity University on April 3-4 at the Jeddah Hilton and the COMDEX e-Business Strategy Seminar on April 4 at the Jeddah Hilton.

The Infosecurity University will offer two separate detailed one-day workshops, teaching proven strategies for protecting data systems and system integrity. The e-Business Seminar will cover the “12 Principals of Successful e-Business Strategy,” based on case studies and practical tuition.”