Gulf Construction Online - Show to reflect changing trends

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Show to reflect changing trends

01 March 2007

National and international companies are set to take to the stage in Jeddah with their latest products and services when a major exhibition for the building and interiors sectors opens next month.

Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition (SBIE), 16th in this series of comprehensive construction showcases, is attracting a large number of leaders in this vital sector, says a spokesman for Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions Limited, the event’s organiser.
The event, to be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and with the support of the Jeddah Mayorality, will take place at the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Centre from April 1 to 5.
National and international participants will come from China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Korea, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Taiwan, and the UK as well as the Gulf States, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia. Among the exhibitors will be a large number of major Saudi companies including Saudi Basic Industries Company (Sabic), Rajhi Steel, Zamil, Bin Tami, Abdullah bin Ibrahim, Alf for Electricity, Gehan, Al Jazeera Paints, Dar Seramic, and Raha.
The five-day show will feature a wide range of products and services under the sectors of building materials and hardware, climate control, construction equipment and tools, electricity and lighting, environmental conservation, marble, granite and stone technology, safety, security and fire prevention, water technology and waste management as well as interiors for hotels, leisure facilities and offices, outdoors and landscape design, schools and hospitals, shopping malls and restaurants, and the home.
“SBIE comes at a time of a boom in the construction sector through the continued development of projects in the kingdom as well as the rapid expansion of the tourism sector,” says a spokesman for Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions. “It presents an important business opportunity not only for engineers, consultants, designers, and contractors but also for a wide variety of professionals, managers of companies, hotels, hospitals, schools, banks, and businessmen at large.”
The spokesman continues: “The recent economic reforms and plans laid down by the government for diversifying the Saudi economy as well as encouraging foreign investment and privatisation, all aim at enhancing the role of the private sector that contributes to the growth of the construction, building and interior decoration sectors in the kingdom.
“Also, a large segment of the society is moving towards adopting new trends and lifestyles, leading to greater demand on housing units, luxury furniture and high-quality interior decoration.
“In addition, the increase in population is putting a mounting pressure on the demand for buildings and residential units. It is, therefore, expected that the need for residential units would reach 5 million by 2020.
“Meanwhile, the development of the tourism sector and burgeoning numbers of visitors for Umrah and Hajj has led to the increased demand for hotels, tourist resorts, commercial centres and other vital public utilities.”
“The private sector is playing a significant role in spearheading various commercial, industrial and residential developments, as is apparent from the launch of projects such as the $54 billion King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah, Jizan Economic City, Knowledge Economic City and Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mousaed Economic City.
“The generous incentives and economic reforms by the government have led to a rapid growth in this sector, which is seeing an investment of more than $267 billion, thus enabling Saudi Arabia to claim the international status as the largest and fastest growing investment market after Shanghai.”
“Jeddah, the vibrant centre for trade, industry and tourism in the kingdom is benefiting the most from these growing sectors, thereby constituting the ideal place for hosting the Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition,” he points out.
Featured alongside SBIE will be a high-profile symposium and workshops for introducing and demonstrating latest technologies and discussing future challenges.
The previous edition of the SBIE was a resounding success, with 98 per cent of visitors intending to return and 75 per cent of exhibitors also seriously considering repeat participation, he says.
“Exhibitors from China, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, Taiwan, Turkey and the Gulf countries, who participated alongside a large contingent of leading Saudi companies, were delighted with the quality of the visitors with three-quarters reporting that they had achieved their main reason for participation that of seeking new sales,” the spokesman comments.
“Both existing suppliers to the kingdom and those new to the market were pleased with the level of business conducted,” he adds.