The MEA division of global technology company Barco has announced the expansion of its Demo and Training Center based in Dubai Media City’s Concorde Tower.
The new Barco Experience center was officially inaugured today by Her Excellency Dominique Mineur, Belgian Ambassador to the UAE, in the presence of Eric Brouwers, Vice President MEA, Barco.
The move follows a 10% growth in the region over the last six years, which now accounts for almost 5% of the firm’s total revenue. The center will serve as the business hub for Barco’s MEA operations, connecting partners, resellers and end-users to deliver excellence in visualisation solutions. It will also see Barco recruiting several staff across IT & Services, engineering, marketing and administration in the next few years.
Since setting up in 2001, Barco’s MEA offices have collaborated with an illustrious group of over thirty local partners including InterTech Vision ME, Salam Technology, Venuetech and Samir Trading and Marketing Group. Together they have worked on some of the region’s most exciting AV projects, from the largest display wall in the hydrocarbon and power industry, consisting of 150 separate screens and located in Saudi ARAMCO’s OSPAC department, to the high-tech control room at the Dubai Civil Defence headquarters.
The expansion of its Experience and Training Center enables Barco to accelerate business processes, offer Barco University certified training courses and host networking events. Spread over 6,500 square feet, the new building will become home to several of the company’s signature products including its ClickShare and WePresent portfolios, healthcare diagnostic and surgical displays, a state-of-the-art cinema room equipped with laser cinema projectors and events and entertainment projectors, and a designated demo area for control rooms and operating experiences as well as its iconic LED wall.
Eric Brouwers said: “Our Experience and Training Center is a critical part of the Barco MEA infrastructure which plays a key role in our ability to deliver world-class solutions to customers, distributors and resellers throughout the region that deliver real impact. This new expansion is answering our clients’ ever growing volume needs that require the relevant expertise and resources to efficiently provide the quality of service and business value they have come to expect.”
The expansion is testament to Dubai’s thriving technology ecosystem, driven by the government’s Smart Dubai initiative which seeks to turn 80% of government services smart by 2018 with a focus on health, education, safety and innovation. Looking to maximise the benefits of digital transformation, the city has become a hotbed for numerous innovations, ranging from massive Internet of Things (IoT) systems, data analytics and hyperloop projects to autonomous vehicles and drones, robotics and artificial intelligence applications.
Brouwers added: “Dubai’s close ties to government departments and the presence of leading businesses make it an attractive location for our client base. Combined with its diversity and technology talent pool, it has quickly emerged as the destination of choice to further grow our MEA operations. As one of the most innovative cities in the world, we see tremendous business potential here and the expansion of our local facilities solidifies our commitment to long-term investment in the Middle East and Africa.”
Barco is exhibiting its ClickShare and Overture solutions at GITEX Technology Week 2017 (Zabeel Hall booth Z-H12).