INTERVIEW-Tech Data Mideast growth up 35 pct Q2
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DUBAI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Middle East division of U.S.
computer products distributor Tech Data Corp increased sales by
35 percent year-on-year in its fiscal second quarter, the firm's
regional managing director said on Sunday.
Steve Lockie of Tech Data FZ LLC, which covers 20 countries
from Dubai Internet City, said component sales grew 49 percent
like-for-like in the first half ended July 31, making the region
one of Tech Data's fastest growing. He gave no first-quarter
sales figures.
"There is good business in the Middle East, and this is a
region that we will continue to invest in," Lockie told Reuters
in an interview. "We had some good results from some of the
smaller markets in the region, which is encouraging."
Tech Data FZ LLC distributes about 50 percent of chipmaker
Intel's products in the region. Tech Data Corp, based in
Florida, is the second-biggest U.S. computer products
distributor.
Bahrain, Oman and Jordan have helped boost Tech Data's
regional figures. Substantial sales in Saudi Arabia have also
contributed to the increase.
Analysts regard Tech Data's results as a benchmark for the
information technology industry's performance. Several IT firms,
such as Taiwanese giant Acer <2306.TW> and Compaq , have
also described the Middle East as one of their most promising
markets.
Lockie said Tech Data's branded software sales rose, while
it saw an unusual 10 percent drop in branded personal computer
sales.
"One of the most encouraging trends is the 15 percent
year-on-year increase in software sales, which means people are
starting to buy more and more licenced software," he explained.
"But it appears that people are not buying branded PCs,
opting to upgrade what they already have."
In May, the U.S.-based Business Software Alliance, which
groups IT firms such as Microsoft and Apple, said
manufacturers' losses from piracy had dropped in the region in
2000 to $240 million from $284 million the previous year.
REUTERS
Rtr 04:27 08-05-01 |
