Kingston Technology, Mindware Sign Pact

IT distributor Mindware has signed a strategic agreement with Kingston Technology to distribute the entire range of Kingston products in the Middle East and North Africa. The world’s leading DRAM-module house, Kingston Technology manufactures more than 2,000 memory products that support nearly every device that uses memory, from computers, servers and printers to MP3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. Kingston serves an international network of distributors, resellers, retailers and OEM customers on six continents. The company also provides contract manufacturing and supply chain management services for semiconductor manufacturers and system OEMs. Kingston achieved global revenues in excess of $3 billion in 2005 and expects to exceed $3 billion in 2006.

“This new partnership with Kingston Technology adds to our existing alliances with other strong and respected global brands,” said Anees Rehman, Components Unit Manager, Mindware. “Through this agreement, we have moved one step closer to having a comprehensive product portfolio that meets the complete IT needs of organizations in the region.”

The appointment of Mindware as the regional distributors for Kingston comes on the heels of Mindware’s appointment as exclusive distributor for Wyse Technology, a global leader in thin computing solutions.

Arabian Knowledge Economy Association

A new association with a focus on the knowledge economy has been established in Dhahran. The Arabian Knowledge Economy Association (AKEA) is an international association targeting the Arab world, aiming to draw attention to such issues as education/learning, intellectual capital, innovation, entrepreneurship, research and technology. Abdulla Al-Subyani is chairman of the founding committee.

AKEA was established by a group of business-persons, intellectuals and industrialists from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Germany, India and the United States.

“The knowledge economy is defined as an economy where its people and organizations innovate with knowledge, existing or new, more efficiently and effectively to enhance economic growth and competitiveness,” Al-Subyani said.

The primary purpose of establishing the association, according to Al-Subyani, is to achieve sustainable economic development and growth in the Arab world by preparing and enabling people and organizations in the region to meet the challenges presented by, and to realize the benefits of, the emerging knowledge, technology and global business environment. The association includes in its membership, corporations, small and medium companies, entrepreneurs, business-persons, venture capitalists, academics, government agencies and youth. AKEA will organize the 1st Conference on the Knowledge Economy in the Middle East, April 13-14, 2007, in Saudi Arabia. For more information on the association, visit www.akea-me.com.

Toshiba Regains Lead in Saudi Arabia

Toshiba Computer Systems Middle East and Africa leads in the growth race within the Top 3 notebook vendors across the Middle East. In particular, according to the latest data revealed by IDC for the third quarter 2006, Toshiba is the leading vendor in Saudi Arabia with a 103 percent year on year growth and a current 28.4 percent market share. Toshiba is the only vendor within the Top 6 to experience significant growth in the country as opposed to some other leading notebook manufacturers who have registered negative growth in the last quarter.

Third quarter 2006 sales figures see Toshiba back in the No. 1 spot in terms of market share not just in Saudi Arabia but across the entire Middle East region. These sales figures mean that the company has achieved its self-imposed target of growing ahead of market growth. Top notebook vendors in the Middle East, according to IDC for Q3 2006, were Toshiba, Acer, HP, Dell and Lenovo.

“We wanted to grow above market growth and we have been very successful at that in Saudi Arabia where we grew almost 80 percent over average market growth,” said Moataz Reda, Saudi Arabia country manager for Toshiba Computer Systems. “2006 has by no means been an easy year for sales around the region but I am proud to say that our great relationship with the channel, our commitment to uprooting the current gray market and a healthy mix of consumer and professional products have allowed us to ride the wave and come out on top of the game. Customers are starting to realize that when buying from reputable resellers they can benefit from the technical support we put in place together with our partners.”

As well as Saudi Arabia, Toshiba’s performance was particularly strong in other GCC countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, where the company claimed the largest share of each of these markets.