KUWAIT: This year's International Information Technology, Office Systems & Communications Exhibition, more widely known as Infoconnect 2011, began yesterday at the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref. The event was inaugurated by communications minister Mohammed Al-Busairi, who stressed that the major exhibition is one of the first indications of the great development-related and economic advances made in Kuwait since the launch of the government's major development plan last April.
Al-Busairi, who is also the State Minister for National Assembly Affairs and the official government spokesman, explained that the cabinet and the Supreme Council for Planning and Development had worked closely with one another to implement the development plan projects. He also revealed that the government will be presenting the second phase of the development plan to the National Assembly (parliament) after the present brief recess, voicing hope that it will be approved shortly after parliament resumes
following the upcoming national celebrations.
During the press conference held following yesterday's opening ceremony for the conference, Al-Busairi said that the unity of the firms participating in Infoconnect 2011 offers a positive image as the country prepares to celebrate the upcoming major national anniversaries. Kuwait is currently in a celebratory mood, he said, with this feeling of joy strengthened by the Amiri grant of KD1,000 to every Kuwait citizen born before February 1 this year, along with a present of free foodstuffs for all Kuwaitis f
or the next 14 months.
The minister said that the exhibition is a keenly-awaited event, with the average number of visitors exceeding 250,000, adding that he expected the numbers attending Infoconnect 2011 to exceed those seen on previous years.
Al-Busairi concluded his address by lauding the exhibition, pointing out that technology is one of the key foundations of the national development plan, and adding that the exhibition, which is open until February 5, is showcasing all the latest advances in cutting edge technology.
Ahmed Al-Mansour, the general manager of Infocenter, which jointly organized the major exhibition, explained that this year's event is a truly specialist one, with three major firms organizing it. He voiced hope that it would be a great success, as well as revealing that this is the most international Infoconnect event to date, with firms coming from nations as varied as Dubai, India, Singapore and Egypt.
He also revealed that industry leaders such as Microsoft, HP, Cisco and the Canadian creators of the BlackBerry device, Research in Motion, are also represented at the major event for the first time. Amongst other participants, meanwhile, are internet service providers like FastTelco, KEMS, Qualitynet and United Network, as well as Zain Telecom, Al-Mansour revealed.
Another of the major local firms participating, Wataniya Telecom, has established its own special zone, complete with games to attract visitors in. Like all the other participating firms, Wataniya will be offering visitors a chance to participate in a number of competitions, including raffle draws, with KD 100 being the lowest prize and a brand new car the top prize, as well as giving visitors the opportunity to take advantage of a number of special offers.
Mohammad Terro, the Public Relations officer with Microsoft Kuwait, explained that for Infoconnect 2011 Microsoft is focusing on attracting students and other individual prospective customers visiting the event, as well as attracting corporate business.
The Microsoft zone is divided into three sections, with one specializing in computer games and advanced technology where visitors can play to their heart's content, the second focusing on Microsoft's new program 'Windows Mobile 7,' and the third being more targeted at the corporate sector, offering advanced electronic systems designed for use in an office setting.
Courtesy: Kuwait Times