Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ) - the largest managed ICT cluster in the Middle East and the first ICT cluster built in a free trade zone have expressed a strong intent to forge stronger ties with Indian ICT companies and woo leading Indian IT professionals. recently participated at the NASSCOM Leadership Forum 2011 which concluded in Mumbai last week. Malek Al Malek, Managing Director of DIC and DOZ, who recently in Mumbai said, “DIC and DOZ can provide a strategic platform to Indian companies seeking to tap the tremendous opportunities emerging in the ICT sector in a vast region surrounding Dubai” he said. “Prominent Indian companies like WIPRO, HCL, L&T Infotech and Sonata Software are today present in the DIC with an objective to expand their operations in the Middle-East and African markets. We look forward to encourage more Indian ICT companies who are looking to expand in different markets to invest in DIC and DOZ and enjoy our state-of-the-art infrastructure, wide range of business-enabling services and tax benefits.” 
Earlier this year, DIC registered strong year-on-year growth last year with 150 companies setting up base at the ICT cluster. In 2010, DIC also saw 48 of its business partners expanding their commercial operations and businesses in the region. The growth witnessed by the ICT cluster in Dubai is poised to increase further in 2011 with enterprise IT spending in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) forecast to reach US$795.2 billion - a 1.3 percent increase from 2010, according to Gartner. Speaking about the performance of the cluster last year, Malek added: “The year 2010 proved positive for us on the back of an industry uptrend and saw many businesses emerging as winners. Additional investments in potential growth areas and operational expansion beyond the region were also witnessed. For DIC, this translates into more companies opening direct offices at the ICT park with most of the leading brands driving the region’s positive trend. “The favourable year-on-year trend for the ICT cluster has resulted in DIC continuing to attract a large number of ICT professionals and specialists. We believe the new investments and influx of top level executives will continue in 2011 with multinational organisations across the globe regarding this region as the next growth area. We hope that a significant proportion of these investments – both in infrastructure and in terms of quality human capital - will come from Indian companies gearing up to capitalize on the growing opportunities in the Middle East and African markets and the wider neighbouring geographies.” Key sectors that saw new additions at Dubai Internet City in 2010 include telecommunications and networking, as well as software, Internet and multimedia. Cable and Wireless Europe, ADP Dealer Services Gulf, Pitney Bowes Software, China Communication Service, and Versata are among the top global brands that chose to base their operations at the ICT business park. Last October, L&T Infotech , a a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, set up its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) headquarters in the Dubai Outsource Zone. A significant number of companies from firststeps@DIC, a unique facility that allows businesses to lease short-term office space while exploring market opportunities, also expanded their presence into full-fledged operations. Currently, more than 25,000 ICT professionals are employed within DIC as part of technical teams and support staff. Malek said: “Technology is key driver of growth and contributes significantly to the economy of the country, reflecting the entire region’s position as a fertile ground for small businesses. Though big businesses are the mainstay of the economy, smaller, nimbler organisations continue to expand their role as major growth enablers. “As the region’s key technology cluster, Dubai Internet City remains integral to facilitating the growth of SMEs by creating and offering the necessary infrastructure and technical capabilities to grow from a grassroots level.” At the forefront of the region's ICT industry, Dubai Internet City remains committed to supporting emerging technology trends in the region and continues to play an instrumental role in developing the industry while contributing to Dubai's drive towards creating a knowledge-based economy.
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