Biggest ever Optical Middle East ends on high note

'Feedback from leading show exhibitors confirms that Optical Middle East has been a remarkable success and our visitor registration system indicates a substantial surge in trade visitors up by 17.4% (2,496) over the previous edition with buyers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the rest of the region frequenting the event,' said DWTC Director General, Mubarak bin Fahad.

'Not only have the number of visitors increased considerably, the number of exhibitors are up by 35 per cent, going to show that leading players from the optical and ophthalmic industry worldwide regard Optical as the ideal platform to showcase their products and to network with industry professionals, buyers and trade visitors,' Mr. bin Fahad added.

The show which began on February 26th, attracted a total of 2,496 trade and business visitors, which was 17.40 per cent up on the number of visitors at the last edition of the show. They were drawn from all over the GCC, Middle East and North Africa region to view the exhibits presented by participants who included leading players from the industry worldwide.

A total of 116 exhibitors presented a range of eyewear and eye care products at the biennial event. They came from Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, India, China, Korea, Singapore Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Luxembourg to name a few.

Reactions from across the show floor mirrored the optimistic sentiment that prevails in the fast growing market for optical and ophthalmic products in the region. A range of exhibitors drawn from across the spectrum expressed their satisfaction at the response generated, the amount of business generated and new business oportunities that came their way. Most were of the opinion that Dubai with its ideal location and mature market was the venue of choice for them to reach the lucrative and high-spending customers in the region.

'We are extremely pleased with the response to the show,' said Peter Seckel, Division Director for Ineter Expo Consult Berlin, organisers of the Made in Germany pavilion that was the largest in the exhibition. 'many of our exhibitors, even those who came here for the first time were more that pleased with the deals they struck and the kind of business opportunities that their participation generated,' he added. 'I am pleased to report that most of them have expressed a wish to return to Dubai for the next show.'

For Mr. Noor Mohammed, of Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, participation at Optical Middle East was imperative to reinforce their presence in the region. Their popular brand of Acuvue contact lenses did attract a lot of interest from around the region. 'The show pulls in visitors from around the region and not only from the UAE, which makes it an ideal platform for us to register our presence in the area and to attract new business,' he said.

First-timers to Optical 2004, Eye Win Opticals from Daegu, South Korea were reasonably pleased with the results of their participation at the show. 'Though this is our first time here, there has been great interest in our products,' said Director of Exports Tae Mok Kim. 'It was worth our while to make the trip to Dubai and we definitely are coming back next time,' he added.

The product profile at the show was vast with exhibits including spectacle frames and sunglasses, optical and ophthalmic lenses, accessories, tools and machinery, artificial eyes, optical and ophthalmic equipment and instruments, surgical instruments, spectacle lenses and lens cloths, ophthalmic consumables and eye care products, diagnostic equipment and instruments, refraction instruments and equipment, lens cutting instruments, orthoptic equipment, sports wear and safety wear among others.

Optical Middle East 2004 received an overwhelming response from a large number of visitors, who came from far and wide including Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Caiques Islands, Canada, China, Congo, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Vincent Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, United Kingdom, USA, Yemen, Yugoslavia and Zambia to see the existing and new products and to place orders. The show attracted importers, distributors, ophthalmists, opticians and ancillary industry professionals.