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Research from GfK claims that 44% of computing devices sold to consumers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in the first quarter of 2013 were tablets – up from 23% a year earlier. According to GfK, unit sales in the MEA computing market – comprising desktops, notebooks and tablets – hit 2.88 million units in the first quarter of 2013, up 37.5% year-on-year. GfK is a Content Provider for this month’s DISTREE Middle East retail channel event in Abu Dhabi.
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Theatro brings HDMI solutions to life
Middle East VAD outfit Theatro will showcase the latest HDMI audio-visual solutions at DISTREE Middle East 2013, which takes place in Abu Dhabi on May 21st to 23rd. With senior buyers from the top retailers in the Middle East attending the three-day event, Theatro will look to build new routes-to-market and extend its channel reach across the region. DISTREE Middle East allows Theatro to pre-schedule a series of one-on-one meetings with companies that meet its precise business development needs.
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Tablets take bite out of PC pie in MEA
Fast-growing tablet sales in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are eating into the PC market. PC shipments in MEA for the first quarter of 2013 hit 5.3 million units, according to IDC. This represented a 14.1% year-on-year decline as the shift towards tablets gathered speed. Desktop sales in the first quarter slipped 18.4% year-on-year to 2 million units with notebook shipments sliding 11.2% to 3.3 million units. Tablet sales are booming with IDC claiming that some power retailers are now selling more tablets that notebook PCs.
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DISTREE Middle East to host expanded ‘Middle East Retail Academy: 2013 Awards’
The ‘Middle East Retail Academy (MERA): 2013 Awards’ will be held in conjunction with DISTREE Middle East in Abu Dhabi on May 22nd. Established in 2008, the annual MERA Awards recognise excellence in the volume ICT and consumer electronics (CE) channel, with specific award categories for vendors, distributors and retailers.
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LG plans retail expansion in emerging markets
Electronics and IT vendor LG has revealed plans to expand the number of retail stores it operates in emerging markets around the world. LG, which currently has 3000 stores, could open a further 600 this year in India, the Middle East and Africa, according to recent comments from executive VP Kim Ki-wan. LG stores would display a range of products including smartphones, TVs and home appliances.
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Mitsumi adds Samsung IT rights in Africa
Mitsumi has added distribution rights for all of Samsung’s IT products across sub-Saharan Africa. The deal with Samsung Electronics Africa will see Mitsumi push the vendor’s kit through all its offices in 19 countries. Samsung will also benefit from Mistumi’s numerous in-country stocking points as the two companies look to build channel sales of the vendor’s IT portfolio.
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Canon Middle East sets up Kenya operation
The Middle East arm of imaging and printing product vendor Canon has set up a subsidiary in Kenya to target the rapidly growing markets of East Africa. Canon Kenya will function as a Canon Middle East office focused on providing marketing and channel development services to both new and existing partners and clients across Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, Rwanda and Burundi.
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CONTEXT emerging markets summit at DISTREE EMEA
This year’s DISTREE EMEA event in Monaco begins today with an Emerging Markets Summit hosted by channel tracking experts CONTEXT, taking place from 13:45-15:45. The session will include exclusive results from CONTEXT’s EMEA-wide ChannelWatch survey, which canvassed the opinions of thousands of resellers and retailers across the region.
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Asbis picks up Fujitsu rights in Algeria
Emerging markets distributor Asbis has added Fujitsu distribution rights in Algeria. The agreement between Asbis and Fujitsu Technology Solutions will see the distributor sell a range of products for the vendor including desktop PCs, notebooks, tablets, peripherals, servers and storage products.
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EMEA Distributor Initiative of the Year – NOMINATE NOW
Nominations are now being accepted for the EMEA Distributor Initiative of the Year Award, part of the ‘EMEA Channel Academy: 2013 Awards’ that take place in conjunction with next month’s DISTREE EMEA event in Monaco. From a new financing approach through to an incredible bundling promotion, loyalty scheme, logistics improvement or increase in reseller breadth, the organisers are looking for an initiative that has made a significant impact on a distribution business and been recognised by the wider channel community.
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