Hi-tech firm grows 30% in Gulf region

BUSINESS GROWTH: Denis Heraud saus he is delighted with the performance of Sun Microsystems in the Gulf region.

Sun Microsystems Inc has revealed its business in the Gulf jumped by 30 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

But the high-end computer maker, whose financial year starts in July, said its challenge was to fill the shortage of skills in the region needed to meet rising demand for its products and services by continuing investment in its links with education.

Among the recent contracts Sun has been involved in include providing business and operational systems for telecom operator Etisalat, overhauling the IT infrastructure of Saudi Airlines and developing the largest super computer in the region at UAE University.

At the beginning of July the company formed a new emerging markets region to drive accelerated expansion across growing markets such as the Middle East, South and Eastern Europe, Latin America, India and greater China.

Speaking at Sun’s regional offices in Dubai, Denis Heraud, President of the firm’s emerging markets, told Arabian Business that globally the growth of the Gulf market was eclipsed only by India.

Sun’s results for the third quarter of 2008 show a 30 percent growth in revenue in the Gulf countries, exceeding the 20 percent growth elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Heraud said: “It’s a sophisticated market, so from pure hardware it’s moving to the service market where we are seeing more demand for services and software like identity management and security and this is what we see in the United States and Europe.

“We don’t see any signs of a slowdown in the emerging markets and when it comes to the Middle East we have seen more and more demand and our job is to fill the demand and one of the key challenges we face is the shortage of skills.

“Our priority is to find the skills within the local market. Sun has a strong commitment to the education market and the roots of Sun are in education and we have links with universities to develop skills within communities.”

He said the Gulf was offering Sun opportunities to gain a foothold in new markets like the oil and gas industry, transport, retail and healthcare, in addition to consolidating its presence in traditional areas such as telecommunications, financial services and the government sector.

“We are in a position to acquire new customers and more and more customers are coming to Sun,” added Heraud. “It’s very promising, but our priority is to reinforce our presence with existing customers and we are seeing more of our customers from the region become global players, like Etisalat. When a customer becomes a key player outside the UAE we become a natural partner for them because of our global position.”

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READERS' COMMENTS

Dubai growth
Posted by Ross Shirazi, Broofield, USA on Wednesday 30 July 2008 at 23:06 UAE time


Indeed, in many areas Dubai has required advance build-up of technology and architecture. Dubai is most likely to become the Switzerland of Middle East.. Many corporations are looking to Dubai whether in fashion; construction or IT. It is very encouraging to see such global enthusiasm developing so fast and that will certainly bring jobs to multiple peoples who travel to Dubai for opportunities, unfathomable in areas that have not quite reached the international mindset, as yet. Given time and more growth we will see Dubai creating a center of global businesses. This is where SUN will have yet another large expanded enterprise. Thanks

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