Office exhibition 'fills a market gap'
01 JUNE 2002
Companies and products from 15 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Russia took part in last month's The Office Exhibition.
The exhibition, organised by dmg Index Exhibitions, was the Middle East's first dedicated trade show for the office interiors and facilities management sector.
Held at the Airport Expo Dubai, alongside The Hotel Show, it won widespread praise from visitors who said the annual event is filling a long-overdue void in the market.
"It is a very industry specific show, which is what was needed," said Hayat Kartal, managing director of Verda Foreign Trade of Turkey, which specialises in import and export and acts as a market information analyst.
"We believe the show will grow significantly because the region is becoming more conscious about office ergonomics and design."
Dubai's Al Mashriq Furniture Manufacturing LLC (AMFM), which currently manufactures sofas and chairs in a factory in Al Quoz, announced at the show it is investing Dh10 million ($3.72 million) in a major expansion and plant move to Dubai Investment Park.
"We are building a 130,000 sq ft factory which we hope to have ready by December," said general manager Samer Katbi.
"The new facility will enable us to also manufacture foam and woodwork which, until now we have outsourced."
Part of the giant dmg World Media group, one of the world's leading trade show companies with over 400 global events annually, dmg Index Exhibitions Limited was set up in Dubai four years ago.
The company now owns and operates four firmly established and successful events, including Index, Index Cairo, the Big 5 construction and contracting exhibition and The Hotel Show, the event for suppliers to the hospitality industry.
