International Freight Week to take place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

The first edition, sponsored by Etihad Crystal Cargo, attracted over 60 exhibitors including Abu Dhabi Airports Authority, Caterpillar, Abu Dhabi Customs, Aramex, DHL, SSI Shaeffer, Maximus Air Cargo and Abu Dhabi Ports Company.

Over 4,500 international industry professionals attended International Freight Week 2008, providing companies with an unequalled opportunity to promote their products and strategies.

International Freight Week 2009 will take place 18-20 October at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and promises to be even bigger and better with 76% of 2008's exhibitors having already confirmed their intention to attend.

As the region's only intermodal event, International Freight Week covers: Road Haulage, Warehousing, Rail Freight, Air Cargo, Container & Reefer Manufacture, Ports & Shipping Management, Container Depots & Terminals, Tank Manufacture, Logistics Services, RFID Technology, Materials Handling and Security.

International Freight Week will once more feature a seminar programme which is open to all exhibiting companies and is free to attend for visitors to the show. The seminar programme offers exhibitors a unique opportunity for companies to promote their products or to provide workshops on any new innovations within their organisations.

The Middle Eastern Logistics markets are some of the most dynamic emerging markets anywhere in the world and attract an increasingly high level of interest and investment as global companies shift their strategic focus to the region. With a score of 72.7 out of 100 the UAE's freight rating is one of the best in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With one of the most liberal business environments in the region and foreign investment actively encouraged in many sectors, it scores particularly well in terms of its political, economic and infrastructure environments.

Highlights from the first edition of International Freight Week:
- 91% of exhibitors achieved their overall objectives
- 87% of exhibitors said that exhibiting at International Freight Week was successful in establishing contacts for future sales
- 86% of visitors plan to return to International Freight Week 2009
- 84% of exhibitors were satisfied with the quality of visitors who attended International Freight Week 2009
- 83% of exhibitors would recommend exhibiting at International Freight Week