Early in November, Malta Enterprise organised the participation of 12 companies at the leading international exhibition for building materials and construction related products, the Big 5 Show held in Dubai at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre, with around 3,000 companies from 60 countries.
The exhibition was officially opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. Also present was Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi from the UAE Economy and Planning Ministry.
Following the successful participation, in terms of results, in previous Big 5 Shows, Malta was present with a larger exhibition area which included aluminium work, wooden doors, water treatment systems, giftware, decorative concrete paving, whirlpool fittings, paints, brushes, wrought iron work and tools, as well as other related products. During the five days of the exhibition, the Maltese companies registered over 500 business contacts with trade visitors from the Gulf Region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and other neighbouring countries.
Malta Enterprise head of trade promotion Dennis Vella commented that exports from Malta to the Gulf Region reached around $36m in 2005, with exports to the UAE representing around 50 per cent of total exports to the region. The participation of Maltese companies at leading exhibitions in the Gulf Region is targeted at introducing more local SMEs to the booming market in the Gulf.
One of the participants, D & G Projects Ltd managing director Godfrey Formosa, whose company supplies water treatment systems, said that the assistance of Malta Enterprise had been instrumental in his company’s participation in this leading event and he is confident that, with the right follow-up contact, his company will manage to penetrate the Gulf Region.
On the other hand, Arthur Farrugia, managing director of Fibremar Services Group, who manufacture decorative concrete paving, commented that interest in their products at this event had been overwhelming and they are already discussing potential export orders to the region.
Mr Farrugia also expressed his appreciation of the support provided by Malta Enterprise to facilitate the participation of Maltese companies in the exhibition and added that such events are an opportunity that should not be missed by all those who are really interested in putting their name on the international market.
The other Maltese participants included Aluserv Ltd, Anni 90 Ltd, Deco Manufacturing Ltd, Philip A. Tabone International, Prestige Ltd, S & R (Handaq) Ltd, The Woodstock Brush, Vassallo & Xuereb Ltd, Windmill Aluminium Ltd and ZB Tools Ltd.