Computer traders unite under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber

First AGM of the newly-formed computer group at Chamber premises seeks to meet the challenges of the future markets as a combined force

Officials and members of the Dubai Computer Traders Group (DCTG) organised their inaugural Annual General Meeting under the auspices of Dubai Chamber last week at the Chamber premises. The newly-formed group, which is the culmination of three years of hard work, now unifies the computer traders of Dubai, one of the largest business sectors in the Emirate.

According to Dubai Chamber's figures there are more than 2,000 computer traders registered at the Chamber, making DCTG one of the largest potential business groups at Dubai Chamber. The formation of the Group heralds a new era for Dubai's computer traders who have been a symbolic part of Dubai's trading culture for decades. It marks an evolution in the trading sector as they step from 'computer street’ in Dubai and become a world-class traders organisation seeking to meet the challenges and expectations of the future markets as a combined force. The office bearers of the group are Eng. Talal Ahmed Al Zaabi, Chairman, Shailendra Rughwani, President and Manoj Kisani, Treasurer, while the board members are Mohammed M. Jaber, Milad N. Jabbour, Mohammed Giordo, Feras Zeidan, Jawad Al Redha and Suchit Kumar.

The AGM saw up to 150 attendees covering the diverse make-up of this important trading sector. The meeting was opened with a speech by the group’s president Shailendra Rughwani. Mr Jawad Al Redha, board member of DCTG and co-chair of the Business Software Alliance, also spoke on the occasion. The BSA (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world and is the recognized voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace.

Mr Jawad gave details about the foresight of the founding members in creating this group especially in light of the growing awareness of intellectual property crime particularly the need to safeguard against software piracy and the impact that this will have on the computer traders and the customers. He commended the group on its achievements of creating consensus and wished them all the success in their future endevours.

A Dubai Chamber official informed the group of the strategic vision of the Chamber in harnessing the pooled voices of business groups to effectively advocate to the Government on their behalf. She noted that the DCTG had various challenges ahead of them and that the formation of a group was fundamental to addressing their particular issues and encouraged them to use this valuable resource effectively.

The core mission of the Group is to establish strong ethical frameworks for the traders within which to operate especially in strengthening the anti-piracy environment in Dubai. They will also seek to raise the profile of the Dubai computer trading sector worldwide. The long-term vision includes an ambitious plan to forge Dubai into a silicon valley in the Middle East such as those in India and the United States.

The Executive Committee fielded questions from members and potential members about several issues including the role of the group in day-to-day business issues such as dispute arbitration between members and other potential projects that the Group would be able to undertake.

© 2008 Al Bawaba