UK trade missions bound for Big 5

Both FETA - The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations and Envirotrade W.M, will be visiting the show, which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from October 26 - 28.

'This is a reflection of the increasing international awareness of the Middle East construction market,' Bernard Walsh, Managing Director, dmg World Media Dubai Limited, organisers of Big 5. 'As the region seeks to attract overseas tourism, there will be continuing large scale investment in world-class infrastructure. Industry associations such as FETA and Envirotrade W.M are recognising the opportunities for business, being created by the regional push for rapid development, and are seeking to open up this market to their members.'

FETA, the representative voice of the UK's HVACR industry, is coming to Big 5 as part of the HVACR 2005 project, a 5 year programme, designed to help and assist the industry internationally, which identified the Middle East as a target market This year's visit to Big 5, preludes what is hoped to be a full official Trade Partners UK supported visit to the UAE next Autumn.

Envirotrade W.M are the 'Environmental Arm' of Advantage West Midlands, a regional Trade Partners UK office, seeking to promote West Midlands' environmental products and services.

According to Envirotrade W.M, Big 5 offers an ideal opportunity for West Midlands companies to meet with regional industry players as well as experiencing first hand the growing opportunities of the Middle East.

Companies include Wolverhampton-based Midland Water Management, a cleaning and wastewater management firm. ' We are using our visit to Big 5 to meet with the regional water industry representatives and local consulting engineers. We aim to find possible future contracts and product leads and gain a better understanding of the UAE water industry,' said Mark Dobson, Managing Director, Midland Water Management.

Trion, based in Hampshire and Applied Energy in Peterborough are also part of the mission, together with Sheffield company Sandycott, which manufacturers of condensate pumps for the air conditioning industry. The company's Director, Mr Craig Elliott, said, 'We aim to use this visit to appoint distributors within the UAE.'

Another mission member is specialist waste management company Waste File UK. Based in Telford, the company is sending three representatives to the Big 5 with the hope of securing new business opportunities.

Official Trade Partners UK sponsor, the Construction Products Association, will join FETA and Envirotrade W.M to co-ordinate the visit of the UK companies. The programme will be led by Mr Stuart Whitehill and the delegation will include Mr David Payne, deputy director for the building and construction unit of TPUK and Mr Paul Keeling of Envirotrade W.M. In addition the Construction Products Association will sponsor a pavilion of 44 UK exhibiting companies at Big 5 2002.

This year's British Big 5 participation 71 individual stands representing 152 companies. 'This is an increase of 30% on last year,' said Walsh. 'This is indicative of the importance Big 5 plays in the regional aspirations of overseas companies.'