Dubai Internet City to facilitate growth of Indian tech SMEs

Dubai Internet City (DIC), the leading technology business community in Dubai, inaugurated a specialised platform dedicated to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

The inaugural ceremony took place in the presence of Navdeep Singh Suri, ambassador of India in the UAE; Debjani Ghosh, president of NASSCOM; Malek Al Malek, group CEO of TECOM Group; Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group; and Ammar Al Malik, managing director of DIC and Dubai Outsource City (DOC).

The inauguration follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between DIC and NASSCOM at GITEX 2018, in which DIC committed to providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) opportunities to develop their operations through offering support and a platform to expand in the MENA region.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), the UAE’s domestic IT market alone, worth $8 billion, is expected to grow at an average of 5% annually between 2017 and 2022. And DIC has seen several home-grown success stories including Dubizzle, Careem, Property Finder and most recently Amazon.ae (formerly SOUQ.com). In line with the UAE’s vision to make Dubai a world leader in technology, the new partnership aims to position Dubai as an attractive destination for Indian firms looking to establish a footprint in the wider MENA region. DIC will provide NASSCOM members a dedicated launch pad to explore and tap into the thriving multibillion-dollar tech market and grow regionally.

“Talent is the currency of the future, and developing it is essential to all organisations looking to thrive in this ever-changing tech industry. Our partnership with NASSCOM reiterates our commitment towards driving the region’s IT industry, while exploring avenues for increased cooperation between the UAE and India,” says Al Malik. “We are confident that our collaboration with NASSCOM will prove mutually beneficial for members of the tech community across both countries.”

“Our priority has always been to provide Indian businesses with innovative solutions and help them achieve optimum productivity and profitability. We are confident that the opportunity being offered to our members by DIC will enable them to explore and grow in new markets and avenues. This partnership is a testament to NASSCOM and DIC’s sustained endeavour to deliver world-class solutions to a comprehensive base of partners,” adds Ghosh.