IT spending continues to rise in the emerging regions of Asia/Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Eastern Europe at a pace far outstripping that of the industrialised world, according to Gartner. These emerging regions will generate IT spending of $1.1 trillion in 2008, and will grow to $1.3 trillion in 2011, becoming a major force of IT growth worldwide.

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for IT spending in emerging regions for 2006 through 2011 will be 8.5% versus 4.3% for mature markets. Gartner predicts that IT will become more of a catalyst for gross domestic product (GDP) increases in the years to come via more-efficient private organisations and competitiveness among countries.

"Current GDP growth is impacting IT spending because it offers larger financial resources promoting, in many cases, more-balanced development within nations with significant consumer middle-class growth, stronger business base expansion and larger demand for IT products and services beyond Tier 1 cities,” said Luis Anavitarte, research vice president at Gartner. “This growing ecosystem of economics and IT also provides credibility for countries to international lenders, boosting financial resources and investments that are so critical for IT expansion.”

Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) will reinforce their role as the driving forces for other emerging IT countries. BRIC will represent about 39% of all emerging markets’ GDP in 2011.

Gartner projects that IT spending for Asia/Pacific will reach $590 billion in 2011, up from $447 billion in 2007. This region continues along its strong IT adoption path, with China leading and India rapidly moving forward.