Gulf Construction Online - Saudi Build confirms kingdom as hotspot

Expo News

Officials open Saudi Build 2010.

Saudi Build confirms kingdom as hotspot

01 November 2010

A STRONG turnout reaffirmed the status of Saudi Build 2010 and Saudi Stone-Tech 2010 as one of the Middle East’s premier construction technology and building material exhibitions, while reinforcing the position of Saudi Arabia as a lucrative business destination for leading suppliers and solution providers in the global construction sector.

A total of 18,000 visitors and 900 exhibitors from 35 countries took part in the 22nd edition of the business-to-business (B2B) construction and stone technology event held over four days last month at the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre.

Held under the patronage of Prince Dr Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and inaugurated by Prince Dr Abdul Aziz bin Ayaf Al Muqrin, the event also featured national pavilions from a total of 16 countries. In addition, it included for the first time a B2B matchmaking exercise, which allowed companies to network with more than 50 industry peers from Europe and Australia.

“The remarkable success of Saudi Build 2010 has reaffirmed its position as the premier platform that supports the sustainable growth of the region’s construction industry. The business-to-business matchmaking initiative, in particular, was widely appreciated along with the various innovations we have introduced this year,” said Mohammed Al Hussaini, the deputy general manager of Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Commenting on the success of the event, Giovanni Luca Atena, head of the Italian pavilion, said: “A total 47 Italian companies participated at the event, including 16 that are under the Italian Trade Commission. I believe that the strong participation of Italian companies manifests a growing focus on Saudi Arabia as an attractive and lucrative market and investment destination. We had a very good response from visitors, who showed great interest in the various Italian products and services that were showcased.”

Sebastian Sons, head of regional managers and representative of German companies at Saudi Build, said: “German companies have been very eager to participate in Saudi Build, as shown by the remarkable 150 per cent increase in the number of participating German companies this year.”

This year’s edition saw 60 German exhibitors against 24 in 2009. “A key factor that has encouraged more German firms to participate is the excellent reception of visitors to the wide range of German products,” he said.

Roland Van Driessche, a representative of Belgian companies at the event, said: “We are definitely coming back next year. The impressive results this year, which saw several Saudi clients signing huge contracts with Belgian companies, should help us convince more businesses to attend the event next year. Saudi Build has certainly reaffirmed its status as the most important construction event in the Middle East.”

Saudi Build this year covered the full range of industry topics related to construction material and equipment, air-conditioning, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, concrete and steel technologies, and “green” construction technologies. It also featured The PMV Series 2010, an international exhibition for construction equipment, plant, machinery and vehicles. Also held concurrently was Saudi Stone-Tech 2010, which showcased products ranging from marble slabs to mosaics as well as computerised stone cutting, quarrying and polishing machinery and equipment.