The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai from October 17-21 will see strong participation from Indian ICT companies, according to an electronics and trade facilitation body.

As many as 40 Indian ICT companies are expected to showcase their wares at the India Pavilion of the annual event, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) of India said.

"GITEX is the largest and the most impressive ICT event of its kind in the Middle East and is now ranked as one of the top three ICT exhibitions in the world," ESC Middle East Regional Director Kamal Vachani said.

Indian exports of software and services to Middle East countries during the year 2009-10 have been estimated at USD 1.7 billion.

"India has a great stake in the booming Middle East, Africa, Asia (WANA Region) and European markets, for which Dubai is the gateway. Thus, the event provides participating Indian ICT companies with opportunities for scouting the expanding, burgeoning Middle East market," Vachani said.

The ESC has been participating at GITEX for several years and the participating Indian companies have been registering significant businesses, joint ventures and marketing tie-ups at the exhibition.

The ICT products on display at the pavilion include web applications, multimedia solutions, CMS, e-commerce tools, mobile application services and enterprise content management solutions.

IT spending in the Gulf region is expected to reach USD 16 billion by 2011.

India's total ICT Exports in 2009-10 are estimated at USD 56.4 billion, with electronics hardware accounting for USD 5.4 billion and software services the remaining USD 51 billion.

Middle East countries are India's 3rd biggest market for electronics hardware exports.

India's share of total electronics hardware imports in the Middle East increased from 14.81 per cent in 2008-09 to 15.46 per cent in 2009-10.

It is estimated that electronics goods exports from India to Middle East Countries during 2009-10 were valued at USD 844 million.

To further strengthen IT relations between India and the Middle East, the ESC has invited a large delegation from the Middle East to visit India for an event, INDIASOFT 2011, being held in Pune on March 25-26 next year.