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Unveiling details of the three shows at a press conference, senior officials of Al Fajer and Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Dubai is ideally poised to gain as a trading hub for consumer goods, being surrounded by fast growing markets of the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
Mr. Khalid Omar Abdullah, Deputy General Manager, Al Fajer Information & Services, said:
"A city that is served by more than 170 shipping lines and 86 airlines is certainly qualified to be a top international consumer trade hub."
Abdullah added, "IATF10, which has successfully emerged as a leading buyer-seller meeting ground for the consumer goods segment, will feature 600 exhibitors from 20 countries. The exhibition, ranked among the more popular general trade fairs in the region, is spread over an area of 13000 square meters."
Over the last 24 years, IATF has been recognised as a key 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 comes at a time when global consumer goods manufacturers are shifting their focus to developing economies.
This year, the fair will host six official national pavilions supported from their governments. The national pavilions include 300 exhibitors from China, 80 from Hong Kong, 35 from Korea, 25 from Iran, 25 from India and 15 from Malaysia. Other countries participating at IATF10 at individual levels include Japan, Indonesia, Poland, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.
Suhas Dhaimade, Exhibition Manager, added, "IATF10 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 products."
As for the Chinese participation that constitutes 5,500 square meters of the show, Dhaimade added, "Currently, the UAE has the highest number of Chinese companies in the GCC and the country is home to 2,000 Chinese companies compared with just 20 in Saudi Arabia for instance."
The total volume of trade between China and the UAE was $14.99bn in the first nine months of 2009, with exports to UAE amounting $13.29bn against $1.7bn imports into China says the Commercial Office of Chinese Consulate in Dubai.
Dhaimade added, "The Gulf Arab spending on consumer goods has not seen any drop, and our show is strong as ever. According to Dubai World Trade Center statistics, Dubai sees over $17bn domestic imports annually and it is a gateway to a $150bn regional import market with a catchment population of $1.4bn."
About 54% of the Hong Kong's exports to the Middle East region were to the UAE, making it the largest single export partner of the South East Asian island nation, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
Dhaimade added, "Hong Kong will be part of the International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF'10) for the sixth consecutive year on an impressive scale with 80 exhibitors. The strong participation comes against the backdrop of the increasing trade between Hong Kong and the UAE and the region in general."
The HK pavilion is being organised under the banner of Hong Kong Trade Development Council and will display a variety of consumer products. Total exports from Hong Kong to the United Arab Emirates were $2,261,918 between January and November 2009, out of the total exports of $4,206,029 to the entire Middle East region.
The press conference also unveiled details on the International Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair (IFJA10) and International Watch & Clock Fair (IWCF 10).
Abdullah said, "IFJA and IWCF are the region's only specialized and dedicated fairs for fashion jewellery, imitation jewellery, costume jewellery, silver Jewellery, gold plated, fashion accessories as well as all kinds of watches and clocks. The shows have attracted almost 100 exhibitors from 12 countries, including group pavilions from India, China, Italy, Lebanon and UAE."
Exhibitors to both shows include gold and silver-plated base metal jewellery, costume and fashion jewellery, crystal, cubic zirconia, rhinestone and enamel jewellery, semi-precious gemstone jewellery, loose polished semi-precious stones, beads, minerals and other materials, jewellery parts and components, belts and buckles, hair ornaments, scarves, shawls and gloves, handbags, wallets and purses, branded watches and clocks.
The business of jewellery, including fashion jewellery, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals and imitation jewellery accounted for 26.5% (or $56.98bn) of the UAE non-oil foreign trade in 2008.
Siba Sami Ammari
