Now is the time to invest in region says UAE minister

In a letter to exhibitors of Middle East Electricity, the region's most important international exhibition and conference for the energy sector to be held in Dubai in February, the Minister said that despite a slowing of the world economy the region's business sector is continuing to vigorously expand.

"The Government is active in its pursuit to get the message across that it's business as usual here and is committed to supporting and protecting the growth of the economy in the region," Al Owais said.

"The time now is as good as ever to break into the Middle East market and I would like to extend my gratitude to all the companies who are supporting the Middle East Electricity exhibition.

"It is encouraging to see the commitment and support you are giving both to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates," Al Owais said.

IIR Exhibitions expect Middle East Electricity, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 3-6, to be the biggest yet with over 8,000 industry professionals visiting.

To date exhibitors from 33 countries have contracted for the show that will feature 16 national pavilions. These include Austria, Switzerland. Germany, Taiwan, South Africa, India, Turkey, USA, Korea, Iran, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. There will also be representation from Malaysia for the first time.

Many of the world's leading international energy industry companies will be taking part in the show including Tyco Electronics from the USA, which brings together three powerful brand names, Raychem, Amp and Simel; France's Alstom and Electricite de France' Siemens from Germany; Hawker Siddeley Power Transformers from Britain; Larsen and Toubro from India and Kema from the Netherlands.

The show will have a large regional presence including the UAE's ABB Middle East and Africa, Emirates Transformer and Switchgear, Spaceage Electrical, Al Hathboor Electric, 3M Gulf and Al Bawardi; Saudi Arabia's Al Babtain Industries, one of the Kingdom's largest manufacturers of electro mechanical products, Saudi Electrical Transformers Factory and Wescosa; Oman's Jyoti Sohar Switchgear and Oman Cables Industry and Kuwait's Al Ahleia Switchgear Company.

"The strong demand from companies for exhibition space reflects the manifest confidence in the robustness of the region's economy," said Sarah Woodbridge, Project Manager, Middle East Electricity 2002.

"There is intense international and regional interest in one of the most rapidly growing energy markets in the world where escalating electricity consumption is fuelling massive investment in power generation projects and infrastructure."