22nd International Autumn Trade Fair set to open with 800 participants, registers 12% growth

Announcing the details of IATF 07, Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, organisers of the expo, said: "Over the last 21 years, IATF has been recognised as a robust regional business platform for the global consumer goods industry keen to expand footprints in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The exhibition's significance is all the more evident at a time when global consumer goods manufacturers are shifting their focus to developing economies in a bigger way. Dubai is ideally poised to gain as a trading hub for consumer goods being surrounded by fast growing markets of the Sub Continent and Africa."

He said buoyed by the robust business potential in its past editions, IATF 07 has attracted an expanded list of exhibitors from 23 countries compared to last year's participation of 713 exhibitors from 21 countries. The fair is expected to attract around 17,000 trade buyers compared to 15,436 buyers last year.

'Style Hong Kong in Dubai' - the largest expo of Hong Kong products showcased in the Middle East will be part of IATF 07 for the fourth consecutive year on a larger scale. This year the participation will feature 240 exhibitors. The large scale participation of Hong Kong comes in the backdrop of the increasing trade between the East Asian country and the UAE and the region in general. The UAE is the single largest trade partner of Hong Kong in the Middle East region.

'Style in Hong Kong in Dubai' is being organised under the banner of Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Hong Kong exhibitors will display an appealing variety of products at the show ranging from Construction Materials, Electronics and IT Products, Fashion Accessories, Gifts & Premiums, Home/Interior Furnishings & Hotel Supplies, Household products, Jewellery and Watches.

"Ever since its debut, IATF has grown as a significant exhibition brand in our portfolio serving the niche sector of consumer goods. Over the last couple of years, the show has become more attractive to global consumer goods companies with the rise in spending power of the region, particularly the GCC," Mr. Khanna said, adding that, "this year also, most of the regular exhibitors of the show are coming back with new products, underscores the strategic effectiveness of the fair as a regional platform to showcase and launch consumer goods and penetrate the market."

This year, the fair will host the official national pavilions of six countries, occupying 75 per cent of the 15,000-square metre exhibition space. The national pavilions include 300 exhibitors from China, 240 from Hong Kong, 40 from Singapore, 30 from Korea, 18 from Libya and 7 from Malaysia. Libya is participating for the first time. Other countries participating at IATF07 at individual levels include India, Russia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Netherlands, Germany, UAE and others

In line with the past trends, participation from China continues to be enormous, with the pavilions being organised by several official bodies like China Foreign Trade organisation, China Orient, Sinobal China, Shanghai Global, Shenzhen SME, Shenzhen Wanbo, Zhejiang Broad Exhibition Co, Shanghai Century, CCFNA and others. These participants have been represented at the IATF since its inception.

For the third year in a row, Singapore Information Services Pte Ltd. will have its Pavilion at the IATF with 40 participants. The Korean participation will include 30 leading general consumer goods manufacturers .Owing to it's high expectation and value as a means for business, 4 local governments namely (Jeonbuk, Nanyangju, Anyang, Daegu) and KITA -Korean International Trade Association) are giving extensive support to Korean exhibitors in the show.

IATF07 will unveil an exciting mix of products comprising cosmetics, foodstuffs, electronics, household appliances, plastic household products, toys, stationery, electrical items, handicrafts, carpets, garments, textiles, house ware, kitchen ware, sanitary ware, novelties, machinery, machine tools, hardware accessories and diary product