Indian information technology exports to the Middle East have grown at a phenomenal rate of 71 per cent in 2002-2003 over the previous year, though competition from Ireland, the Philippines and China is picking up, a top IT official said.

"The Middle East markets offer massive potential to be tapped," said D K Sareen, Executive Director of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, kicking off the roadshow here for IndiaSoft 2004, the largest IT global networking event to be held in New Delhi next week.

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From the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and CIS countries, where growth of the IT industry will be significant in the coming years, around 90 CEOs of leading IT companies have been invited to participate in the event, he said.

These selected participants, who will be interacting with over 700 Indian IT entrepreneurs at IndiaSoft 2004, "will act as Indian brand ambassadors in their own respective countries, when they carry out massive digitalization programmes," Sareen said.

The three-day IndiaSoft 2004, to be organised from February 10 by the ESC for the fourth consecutive year, is fast becoming an important global IT show with a large number of visitors from India and abroad.

Over 70 exhibitors and around 200 delegates from 40 countries are expected to participate in the exhibition and conferences, Kamal Vachani, regional director of ESC, Dubai said.