Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurates Materials Handling Middle East and Automechanika Middle East 2009

These exhibitions are the Materials Handling Middle East 2009 being held at the Sheikh Rashid Hall and Automechanika Middle East 2009 which is occupying halls 1 to 8 of the exhibition centre.

Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, is the Patron of Materials Handling Middle East exhibition organized by Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

After cutting the ribbon signifying the opening of the three-day exhibitions, Sheikh Ahmed was accompanied by Ms. Elisabeth Brehl, Managing Director of Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH and other VIPs on a tour of the exhibition halls where he spoke with several company officials manning their booths.

Materials Handling Middle East 2009, the international exhibition for logistics, supply chain, freight, and cargo products and services, is yet another sign of an economy in recovery mode. This year the show has enjoyed a tremendous 42% growth in the number of international exhibitors participating and 37% jump in number of countries registered for the exhibition. This show has attracted close to 200 exhibitors from over 20 countries.

Ms. Brehl said:

"The unprecedented exhibitor and visitor response this year can be attributed to the Dubai Government's Investments in the Dubai Industrial City and Dubai Logistics City projects which created a huge potential market in the logistics and materials handling market. Materials Handling Middle East 2009 will provide the exhibitors with the ideal business setting that encourages and initiates business transactions while maximizing and pushing the potential of trade limits."

She added that key suppliers and decision makers from around the world will be present at the show to complement the needs and requirements of the key buyers.

On the sidelines of Materials Handling Middle East, there will be a three-day industry specific conference from May 31st to June 2nd 2009. The conference will be in association with SCLG; (Supply Chain & Logistics Group). The conference will provide industry insiders with a platform to share their ideas and knowledge.

HH Sheikh Ahmed also inaugurated Automechanika Middle East 2009, the Middle East's largest automotive aftermarket exhibition. This year, Automechanika Middle East 2009 has attracted 966 exhibitors from 46 countries.

"The large presence of automobiles in the region creates significant demand for the aftermarket industry and augurs well for Autome-chanika Middle East," said Ms. Elisabeth Brehl.

Combined, the two shows have brought in to Dubai a total of 1,144 international and regional exhibitors, showcasing the latest trends in automotive aftermarket products as well as logistics equipment and materials handling machinery. These foreign exhibitors are keen to tap into the lucrative Gulf and Middle East market rebounding from an economic slowdown, with a buoyed economy resulting from increased value of oil and other petroleum products.

Automechnaika Middle East also features the Automechanika Acad-emy, an interactive forum dedicated to the introduction and discus-sion of the most relevant issues of the regional automobile industry, with the presence of the industry's key experts in every field from key organizations such as, Dubai World, Frost & Sullivan (UAE), RTA (UAE), and SEMA Association (USA) amongst others.

The seminar will serve as a communication bridge between enter-prises, buyers and researchers.

Automechanika Middle East is the event for the rapidly developing automotive aftermarket in the wider Middle East and Africa. The event covers the full range of parts for motor vehicles, as well as components for the drive, chassis, body, electrics and electronic groups, equipment for vehicle service and repair, bodywork repair and painting, tyres, batteries and performance systems.