Gulf Construction Online - gulfBID 2012 sets impressive records

Events

HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa inaugurates the exhibitions.

gulfBID 2012 sets impressive records

01 May 2012

THE 2012 editions of gulfBID and gulfInteriors broke records not only in terms of exhibitor participation and visitors but also in terms of business.

A total of 6,815 visitors attended the events, a 38 per cent increase on 2010 figures when the shows were last staged.
The exhibitions, which enjoy the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, were held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) in Bahrain.

The total value of contracts signed and unveiled at the shows soared past the $30-million mark.

Bahrain Prism Glass Factory set a new record for business at the exhibitions, signing deals worth at least $19 million, while Dubai-based Alomi Real Wood Floors walked away with deals worth $11.6 million.

The first order for Bahrain Prism Glass was worth $2.2 million for the supply of 8,000 sq m of high-end architectural glass to a palace in Abu Dhabi, said general manager T Mani.

“We will start supplying the glass from June 1,” Mani said.

The second order was valued at QR27 million ($7.42 million) from Doha, Qatar, and the third from India worth $6 million, he added.

Bahrain Prism signed two more orders valued at $1.27 million and $1.07 million for a five-star deluxe hotel in New Delhi, India and the Gosi Villas in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, respectively.

“We already have around 38 projects in Bahrain and have the capacity to supply all of them and more from our state-of-the-art 35,000-sq-m factory at the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP), which we set up two-and-a-half years ago at a cost of $33 million,” he said.

Sibco and Janada Building Materials officials at the signing of the agency agreement.

“We have all types of glasses ranging from architectural to bullet-proof glasses. Our aim is to become a one-stop shop for any type of glass,” he said.

Alomi Real Wood Floors, after entering a $10-million deal on the opening day, followed it up with orders worth $1.6 million on the second day.

Alomi’s second deal was worth $1 million for the supply of 13,000 sq m of natural oil finish tropical timber for a palace in Saudi Arabia, said managing director Albert Douglas.

The company also signed an order valued at $500,000 for the supply of 20,000 sq m of British wool carpet for a wedding hall in Dammam, and another for $100,000 worth of commercial laminated flooring to a housing project in Bahrain.

“This is my sixth time at gulfBID. And every year I go back to Dubai doing better business than before,” he said. The remarkable attendance at the show illustrated that business is firmly back on track in Bahrain, he added.

Meanwhile, Saudi Insulated Blocks Company (Sibco), one of the leading producers of cellular concrete blocks in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, is expanding its footprint in the region and has appointed Bahrain-based Janada Building Materials as its agent in the kingdom.

“We look forward to a fruitful engagement with Janada,” said Tarek Olama, an official at Sibco’s export department, after signing the agreement at the show.

Sibco specialises in the manufacturing of insulating white blocks to serve Saudi Arabia’s growing construction industry (see also page 200).

Among high-profile visitors attending the exhibitions was the Italian ambassador Enrico Padula who visited iGuzzini’s stand at gulfInteriors. The ambassador said he was delighted to visit the stand and to support the collaboration between Italy (iGuzzini) and Bahrain (Al Bait), which “highlighted Italian design and quality at its highest level”.

Italian Ambassador Padula (centre) at the iGuzzini stand with other officials.

At gulfInteriors, Bahrain-based Berger Paints displayed its latest offering Royale Play, which will hit the market next month (June), according to sales and marketing manager R Raghupathi.

“We are the leading local paint manufacturer in the kingdom and despite the unrest our business is doing good,” Raghupathi said.

Another participant Mohammed Al Moamen, marketing director of Magic Wall Décor, said the exhibition will help expand his business within the kingdom and overseas. “I have had some very good enquiries, which I hope will translate to business,” he said.

Also, first-time exhibitor Marmara Trading said it saw a good market in the kingdom for its imported bathroom and sanitary ware. “Business is expected to pick up this year,” said Hani Khuzam, senior sales manager.

Next year’s gulfBID and gulfInteriors exhibitions will be held from May 7 to 9, 2013 at the BIECC and early indications are that the shows will go from strength to strength.

“With deals of more than $30 million announced, the levels of business have been unprecedented and several of our exhibitors have expressed their desire to be here next year,” said Jubran Abdulrahman, the director of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), the organiser of the events. “gulfBID and gulfInteriors have cemented their stature as the leading events of their kind for the Northern Gulf.”