Center Highlights Authorized Cisco Training for IT Professionals

MUSCAT, Sultanate of Oman, 14 June 2011: Gulf Business Machines (GBM), a Cisco Learning Partner (CLP) for MENA region and the region's leading IT solutions provider, today announced the launch of Oman's first Cisco Training Center. The world-class training center, part of GBM's Learning Services, is located at GBM's Qurum premises in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. 

GBM's fully-fledged center will offer a broad range of Cisco training services to job seekers and IT professionals in the private and public sectors. The training sessions will be led by Certified Cisco Systems Instructors (CCSIs) and will deliver Cisco authorized and approved content, including technology, product-specific and certification-preparation courses. In addition, courses on Cisco technologies will be offered using the market's latest hardware and remote labs.

"Cisco is very proud to collaborate with GBM in this initiative which we hope will encourage local Omani talent to realize their full potential to be tomorrow's leaders of the local and regional IT industry. The Cisco Training Center is the first of its kind in Oman and we are confident that it will bring great value to the local community," said Iyad Al Chammat, Cisco General Manager in Oman.

GBM has been a Cisco Learning Partner (CLP) since 2008 and has strong presence in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Pakistan. GBM Learning Services is one of the region's leading IT training provider and offers over 1,000 comprehensive training programs across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region training over 3,000 IT professionals annually.

"The launch of the our training center in Oman marks a milestone for GBM and shows GBM's commitment to invest in developing the IT talent in Oman As part of GBM's Learning Services offerings, this initiative reinforces our efforts to help Omanisation by providing cutting edge Cisco training solutions to Oman's IT workforce and jobs seekers to fit a wide variety of their needs," said Olivier Mouries, Oman Country General Manager, GBM. "GBM is committed to supporting local talent in Oman and providing them with the skills needed to excel in today's ever-growing IT industry."

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About Gulf Business Machines (GBM)
Founded in 1990, Gulf Business Machines (GBM) is the leading IT solutions provider in the region fulfilling the IT requirements of local, regional and international organisations in the GCC.

A spin-off from IBM, GBM is the sole distributor for IBM- excluding selected IBM products and services -throughout the GCC, except for Saudi Arabia. GBM's momentum was further enhanced in 1999, when the team secured the Cisco portfolio. Today GBM holds the highest level of recognition in the region from Cisco, Gold Partner status, in addition to the Cisco Learning Partner status.

GBM offers an extensive range of IT infrastructure, IT solutions and services ranging from consulting, resource deployment and integration to after-sales support, through 1000 professional and over 20 solid strategic partnerships forged with internationally-recognised IT solution providers.

The company, which is ISO-9001 certified since 1999, has offices in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah), Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. GBM also has established a presence in Pakistan, where the company now operates three offices, one each in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore as an IBM Premium Partner. The Pakistani operation also holds a Silver Partner Status from Cisco.

For more information please visit www.gbm4ibm.com

About Cisco:
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

For further information, please contact:
Ilana Zacka,
Communications Manager
Gulf Business Machines
Tel: +973 17584333, Dir: +973 17584363
Email: ilana@bh.gbm.ihost.com

Lina Al Desouky
Associate Account Manager
Weber Shandwick
Tel: +971 4 321 0077 ext: 1262
Email: lina.aldesouky@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2011