Dell, Tecom eye partnership

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: Dell, pictured, is looking at partnering with Tecom.

US computer giant Dell is looking at partnering with Dubai's Tecom Investments on a number of "strategic initiatives", the technology investment firm's chief executive said on Sunday.

"We are considering some strategic initiatives," Abdulatif Almulla said, without giving any further details.

Almulla was speaking at a press conference alongside Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell, on a visit to the UAE to meet with government officials, customers and product distributors.

Dell said the world's second largest computer maker planned to open a logistics centre in Dubai, based in Jebel Ali, to support distribution and provide training to local partners.

He said further investments were planned in the Middle East as the company looks to capitalise grow in the market.

He said unit sales in the region were growing by around 70% year-on-year.

"This is one of the most promising and exciting businesses that we have around the world. Currently business here is growing at about 70% [on a] year-on-year basis in units, which is about three times the overall growth of the market," he said.

Dell said the computer maker's recently announced cutbacks in the US - closing plants and cutting over 10% of its workforce in an bid to save $3 billion a year by 2011 - would not impede global expansion plans.

"As we are making adjustments in our business, we are essentially freeing up resources and capital so that we can make the investments we need to drive our future growth. We are definitely investing here [the Middle East], and in all of the key emerging markets," he said.

In order to target emerging markets, Dell said the company planned a "pretty dramatic expansion in the range and variety of products" sometime in the early autumn, without being more specific.

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