Final preparations on gulfBID 2007 exhibition

The event - which will be staged at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) under the patronage of Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa - will be double the size of the inaugural show last year, says Abdulla Shafeea, general manager, Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE).

It will include at least six national pavilions representing Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Germany, Turkey and the UK, he adds.

Last year's show attracted a total of 135 companies from all around the world.
gulfBID, a joint venture between dmg media group, the organiser of the Big 5 and Index shows in Dubai, and HCE, aims to address the requirements of the booming construction and interiors sectors of the region, which is experiencing an unprecedented demand for construction materials and interior décor expertise.

Responding to the growing demand, gulfBID has widened its portfolio to include the full spectrum of quality interiors and furniture including contract furniture for hotels, offices and new facilities such as airports and hospitals.

'Studies and observations of the construction market conducted recently for countries in the northern part of the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, indicate that the skylines of these nations will be as crowded as Dubai's, with construction imports to feed into the construction boom to reach $9.2 billion this year,'

says Shafeea.

'gulfBID has become the meeting point of all professionals and investors in the booming construction industry as well as the interior design and furniture market that has immense potential. This is a natural response to the demand created by these two dynamic industries that are in need of a regular update on the latest technologies, materials, and design concepts to keep the market on par with international standards and advances,' says Shafeea.

Two of the halls at the BIEC have been taken up - one for the Gulf Interiors and Furniture and the other for Gulf Construction - in a bid to serve the buoyant markets of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and cater for the business-to-business requirements of the sectors.

A major marketing campaign worth than $1.5 million has been under way regionally and internationally to raise awareness of the increasing importance of gulfBID, whilst highlighting the pivotal role being played by Bahrain as a regional gateway and trading hub.

'High-profile business officials and industry professionals have already confirmed their keenness to attend this important business-to-business expo,' he adds.

The exhibition will include a two-day 'Industrial Forum' which will be held on the second and third days of the show. Around 15 speakers will address the forum, according to Shafeea.