Dubai. Photo: iStockKochi: Information technology exports from India to the Middle East are on the rise, and Kerala is getting a fatter share of the pie. More importantly, the region provides ample room for Indian IT firms to grow, experts feel.
Kerala’s increasing participation in the IT business with the Gulf countries is reflected in the India pavilion at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai. As many as 25 companies from Kerala have already registered for this year’s event.
Kerala’s IT export to the Middle East is driven by IBS Software, which sells travel software to Emirates. Technopark-based Attinad Software Private Ltd., Experion Technologies, Testhouse and many smaller companies make up the rest of the export to the Gulf countries.
Indian IT firms export ware of about $2 billion (Rs 13,400 crore) to the Gulf countries. However, the number shrinks in comparison to the total IT export from India. Export to the Middle East is less than 2 percent of total export of about $108 billion (Rs 7,30,000 crore).
In contrast, the Gulf countries account for a major share of Indian hardware export of around $5.7 billion (Rs 38,190 crore). The United Arab Emirates is the second-largest market for Indian electronic equipment, including mobile phones, audio and video devices, personal computers, transformers, distribution panels, voltage stabilizers, invertors, watches and clocks.
Dubai is a gateway for Indian companies to other Gulf countries as well as European and African markets, says Kamal Vachani, regional director UAE-based Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council. This is the reason for Indian companies opening offices in Dubai.
