Six Messe Frankfurt trade fairs open in Dubai

Today witnessed the opening by HH Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Director of Information, of 6 huge trade fairs presented by the world's second largest event organiser, Messe Frankfurt. Featuring no less than 5,000 exhibitors from 100 countries, more than 50,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the 3 day programme taking place at Dubai's International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The shows include CES Hometech, Light Middle East, ISH kitchen + bath Middle East, the Middle East Toy Fair, Garden & Landscaping Middle East, and Hardware & Tools. The events run until 15 May and take up all the available space at the trade centre's massive 33,000 square metre complex.

According to Mr. Eckhard Pruy, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, all of the shows represent highly dynamic trade sectors and have grown by an average of 45% in less than a year. He said "Messe Frankfurt's motto is to make markets everywhere we go. We now organise more than100 events worldwide, 15 of which are in Dubai. So the UAE and the broader Middle East region is a vital part of our overall international business strategy."

The relationship between Messe Frankfurt and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is also growing. In February DWTC 's Director General, Mr. Helal Saeed Al Marri, visited Germany and signed an MOU with Messe Frankfurt's Chairman, Mr. Michael von Zitzewitz covering reciprocal training and consultancy services.

Pruy underlined the importance of the relationship by explaining the benefit such massive trade fairs have on the local Dubai economy. He said "we estimate that the week will inject something like Dh 350 million to the local economy with the exhibitors and visitors spending on everything from hotel rooms to hospitality. Dubai and Frankfurt share a common understanding on the benefits trade fairs bring to local businessmen, which far exceeds the transactions undertaken at the exhibitions themselves."

Another significant milestone between Messe Frankfurt and DWTC came a few days ago with the Emirates - Germany Business Summit, which was held at the Forum Messe Frankfurt in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. The delegation was led by HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Economy & Planning. During the visit the delegation met with senior political and commercial leaders, who welcomed the growing business relationships between the two states.

The UAE are Germany's most important Arab trade partner. Exports amount to EUR 5.4 billion - an increase of more than 25 percent versus 2006. More than 600 German companies have already set up a business in the Emirates, most of them in one of the many free trade zones. Frankfurt, the economic centre of Hessen, was well suited for the event, as its most important growth sectors focus on logistics, tourism, telecommunications, real estate, media and bio-technology and healthcare much like Dubai in the UAE.