INTERNATIONAL TRADE : FileNet to Supply Kuwait With New Document Systems

Three Kuwaiti government agencies that used FileNet Corp.’s computerized document storage systems have informed the Costa Mesa company that they’ll be purchasing replacements of equipment that is believed to have been stolen or damaged by Iraqi forces.

The systems, which are designed for Arabic language users, were installed in Kuwait’s Defense and Interior ministries and the Public Institute for Social Security.

“The ministries said they want to bring the systems back on line as soon as possible, but because of electricity problems, they can’t,” said Dennis L. Bress, FileNet’s director of international distribution.

In the last three years, FileNet sold 15 imaging processing systems to government agencies and companies in the Middle East, five of which went to Kuwait, he said. The five systems in Kuwait were worth an estimated $2.5 million, he said.

Three more systems worth $770,000 were ready for shipment to Kuwait when Iraq invaded the country. The systems, ordered by the Ministry of Information, were resold to other U.S. customers, Bress said.

“We expect the ministry to renew its contract for the systems once things get back to normal, which we don’t expect to happen until midsummer,” Bress said Friday.