Big IT market players from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan visited VIP Forum KZ’2014 in Antalya

Business conference of key and strategic MERLION partners in Kazakhstan was held in Turkey.

VIP Forum KZ’2014 business conference of key and strategic MERLION partners in Kazakhstan was held in late May on Antalya coast of Turkey. The conference was also visited by world’s top IT-manufacturers: Canon, Intel, NetApp, Lenovo, Qnap, Seagate, Stratus Technologies, Tripp Lite, ZyXel.

The conference offered an opportunity for senior managers and owners of the big companies of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan IT markets to get together. The main goal of the meeting was to discuss Kazakhstan IT market development prospects in the light of current post-devaluation syndrome, as well as to organize efficient interaction with partners. It has been discussed in detail, what kind of services the partners expect to obtain from vendors and the distributor; what kind of interaction patterns are most efficient; what kind of regional and business specifics of each partner have to be taken into account. Answers to all those issues have been found in the course of discussions.

VIP Forum KZ’2014 VIP Forum KZ’2014 was opened by Victoria Tarantina, MERLION Business Development Director in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Transcaucasus. In her opening speech Victoria briefly summarized the results of third year of MERLION operation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted the success in cooperation with present partners and thanked everyone for participation in conference. Her speech was followed by a series of presentations of manufacturing companies’ representatives.

Valentina Alyoshina, FSU Retail Sales Representative Seagate, in her presentation “Branded Solutions 2014. Create. Connect. Enjoy” threw the light on new products in external hard drives segment, announced analytical data for this market and trends for 2014. In addition to external devices, Valentina also presented to audience two business products - Seagate Business Storage and Business NAS for CIS.

Vyacheslav Syomin, Sales Director of Stratus Technologies, made a presentation “Absolute Business Continuity from Stratus Technologies» describing “Platforms which work. Always”.

Mikhail Polunetskiy, Business Development Manager at B2B Canon, told about administering office multifunctional devices of imageRunner series and presented Canon partner program.

Alexander Kim, Channel Sales Expert of Lenovo, presented Think corporate product line and services (desktops, screens, monoblocs, notebooks, pads, ultrabooks, workstations, servers, accessories). Alexander also reported about assistance in sales provided o partners by the manufacturer.

Erlan Ashirov, ZyXel/Qnap, Wholesale and Retail Market Segment Manager, made a dramatic presentation “ZyEnergy – pimp your business!” dedicated to the whole range of ZyXel network equipment both for personal use and comprehensive solutions for corporate market. In conclusion of his presentation Erlan described one again the advantages of receiving the partner authorization.

Vladimir Novikov, NetApp, Business Development Director in CIS countries, made a presentation “Change in Data Storage System Role and Place in DPC and New Opportunities for NetApp Ecosystem”, in the course of which he also drew an attention to a current market trend of transferring to clouds as well as specifics of organizing cloud systems and technologies.

Sergey Lysokobilka, Intel, Business Development Manager, was comprehensive in covering the 2014 line of Intel® solid-state drives, server platforms and components.

Aleksey Volkov, Integration Manager of Tripp Lite, noted that Tripp Lite products are power protection devices designated not only for PC but also for DPC engineering facilities. Aleksey stressed that company policy in partner relationship is the whole set of measures aimed at partner business development: co-developing of solutions, concept formation, project support and protection, as well as marketing materials and free training for partners.

Finally, the most exquisite part of the business part of the conference was a quiz arranged by ZyXel. Winner has been rewarded with an excellent prize – stylish Keenetic Giga II router, supporting wireless data transfer at 300 Mbps.

The unofficial part of the conference included karaoke, dinner in the best fish restaurant of the city and golf master class at course where Tiger Woods, American professional golfer, winner of many golf tournaments and the highest-paid sportsmen in the world, played. That was a new experience for almost all participants of the forum, and everyone had a pleasure to take part in short golf tournament after training.

VIP Forum KZ’2014 VIP Forum KZ’2014

“The forum was held in a friendly atmosphere. Alive relationship, not overloaded with excursions, let conference participants to resolve the most topical issues they arrived with. We, the organizers, have tried to do our best to carry out the conference in most productive and comfortable way. We hope that our participants liked all what we have done,” said Victoria Tarantina, MERLION Business Development Director in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Transcaucasus.


MERLION Kazakhstan thanks the vendors for supporting the VIP Forum KZ’2014, and the partners – for their interest and participation in the conference.

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