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Conmex Middle East Begins in Sharjah

DUBAI — Conmex Middle East — trade event for construction machinery, equipment and vehicles — got under way at the Expo Centre Sharjah 
on Monday.

The event was opened by Shaikh Khalid bin Saqr Bin Hamad Al Qassimi, Director-General of the Public Works Department, and will run until October 15, 2009.

The launch edition of Transmex Middle East, an exhibition of commercial vehicles, was also inaugurated. It will run along side Conmex at Expo 
Centre Sharjah.

Present at the opening ceremony were Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or SCCI, Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, Fasahat Ali Khan, Adviser to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah, officials of various government departments, and members of the diplomatic corps and trade associations. Speaking after the inauguration ceremony, Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa said the UAE is leading the regional property and construction market, accounting for a major chunk of the total project value. “Ongoing projects as well as infrastructure initiatives have kept the construction sector buoyant in the country even during these tough times. This has ensured that demand for construction machinery, equipment and vehicles has not dropped. In fact there is continued demand for these products,” Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa said.

“The presence of leading players in the industry at the show also reaffirms the positive sentiment and the recent uptrend seen in the economy,” Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa added.

According to recent figures by international consultants, about $1.3 trillion worth of projects are currently under way in the UAE. This includes 7,231 projects across all spheres. And, over 1,000 projects are in the pipeline this year alone in the country.

In the GCC, despite a tough year, almost 70 per cent of the total registered projects are currently under construction with a further six per cent out to tender and 10 per cent already in the concept and design stage.

Conmex Middle East 2009 is featuring more than 300 brands from nearly 24 countries at 30,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space, while Transmex is showcasing leading makers of commercial vehicles from all over the world.

“A key attraction this time will be the debut of Transmex Middle East. It is positioned as an attractive platform for international commercial vehicle manufacturers to exhibit and promote their products to construction and logistics companies in the region,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

“Together these two exhibitions will help serve a wider visitor profile and will offer buyers a one-of-its-kind sourcing and networking opportunity,” added Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

· business@khaleejtimes.com