01 April 2011

MORE than 10,400 visitors from 27 countries and 306 exhibitors representing 28 countries thronged the inaugural Big 5 Saudi Arabia, which was held at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events from Feb 27 to March 2.

The show, spread over a total floor space of 5,456 sq m, exceeded all expectations as it was a complete sell-out, according to the organisers who are expecting the event to grow by more than 20 per cent in 2012.

“Due to the substantial budget for the kingdom’s building programme this year, such an important exhibition plays an essential role in the need of the local construction industry in delivering the immense infrastructure projects taking place currently. Next year, I expect to see this exhibition grow more and more to meet this market demand,” said Mazen Batterjee, deputy chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Participants expressed their confidence in the show with many keen to return next year. Says Jalaal Abu Hassan, distribution manager of Flir Commercial Systems of The Netherlands: “The show absolutely met our expectations as The Big 5 is the biggest trade show in the region which addresses the construction market’s overall requirements.”

Fahad Nasser Al Hussaini, managing director, Al Omran for Trade and industry of Saudi Arabia commented: “The Big 5 show Saudi Arabia is an important venue for us to raise awareness of our products, as it is a meeting point for us as a supplier and our partners and also our existing and potential clients.”

Similarly, Raef Halawi, sales and marketing manager, Glaver Gulf of the UAE, said: “We’ve generated a big database out from visitors and potential clients as we have also  had new leads.”

And Walid Atik, regional manager for Hafele, Germany, said: “We’ve generated leads that will certainly lead to actual business, and that is why we are coming back next year.”

Dyson Airblade, a UK company that took the opportunity to raise awareness of its brand in Saudi Arabia, confirmed new contracts in the kingdom while exhibiting at The Big 5.

Laticrete RAK, a global leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of tile and stone, showcased its latest range of concrete repair solutions such as the non-shrink grout, trowel grade and high-strength mortar at the show. With ongoing construction projects in Saudi Arabia estimated to reach $420 billion, Laticrete confirmed that it has increased its marketing and sales activities in the kingdom to cater to the surge in demand for its products and services, with The Big 5 show serving as one of its key networking platforms in the Saudi market.

It further revealed that visitors to the event were given live demonstrations of the rest of its offerings such as Latapoxy 310, SpectraLock and other exclusive products that have been used in various high-profile construction projects worldwide. Laticrete’s stand also featured marketing materials of RAK Ceramics.

Similarly, local suppliers are seeing a huge increase in market demand due to the construction boom and aimed to benefit from the large international exhibition presence at The Big 5. Hadi Hammad, area manager for Alumco, said: “The Big 5 has been great for our business, delivering new leads both locally and internationally. We will definitely be exhibiting again next year.”

The Big 5 exhibition has also benefited from the Saudi FM Summit, an event for the facilities management industry within this region. It is an educational and networking event that also has accreditation from the British Institute of Facilities Management. The institute’s general manager Julio Rueda said: “The Big 5 Show Saudi Arabia was really a success, and we are planning to come back next year. We generated some good leads and the communication process will take place soon.”

Exhibitors came from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Turkey, the UAE, UK and the US.

There were also special events that ran alongside the main show such as the Leed 201 and Leed BD+C 251 workshops, and the Leadership Strategy Day.

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