Sheikh Ahmed to open Middle East Exclusive 2004

Middle East Exclusive 2004 features hundreds of international luxury brands from more than 25 countries, many of which will make their regional debut at the trade-only exhibition, which will run for three days.

Some of the brands being launched include, the new Apple iPod Photo from PRO TECHnology Co; luxury Swiss chocolates from Chocolats & Cacaos Favarger; the latest luxury watches for men, women and children from Swiss company, Jacques Farel; and exclusive perfumes from Bogal Parfums Distribution Ltd.

PRO TECHnology will showcase the new Apple iPod Photo MP3 player and image storage device, which allows users to store and carry upto 15,000 songs or 25,000 photographs. The company will also display mobile telephone cases from Finnish company Golla's new festive collection.

"We want to meet duty-free buyers from Middle East and North Africa," said Jamal H. Maraqa, Managing Director, PRO TECHnology, explaining the company's decision to exhibit.

Chocolats & Cacaos Favarger, a Swiss company with a 178 year-old tradition of chocolate manufacturing, will launch its latest luxury chocolates and chocolate fondue.

"The Middle East is one of the fastest growing retail markets, and confectionery along with gourmet food, is one of the best-selling categories of regional duty free outlets accounting for over 9.2 % of sales worth US$ 82.3 million, in 2003," said Claudia Jaermann, the company's Marketing Manager, Travel and Domestic Retail.

"We have identified strong potential for our premium products in the travel retail channel and are looking forward to present our latest range of exclusive products to regional confectionery buyers."

Meanwhile, another Swiss company, Jacques Farel®, will exhibit its latest designs for men, ladies and children.

"Our watches are distributed in 30 countries through leading department stores, in-flight magazines and duty free shops," said Joanne Froidevaux, Vice President, Marketing and Sales for the company.

Available in five collections, Swiss Movement, Sport, Teens, Kids and Fashion, Jacques Farel® is looking to tap into the booming regional retail and duty free markets.

Bogal Parfums Distribution Ltd. will present two of its exclusive perfumes, Lobogal Limited Edition and Lobogal Gold Limited Edition, to duty free buyers at the show.

"Our products combine exclusive designs with unique fragrances and we are targeting the international travellers into and from this region, which is the world's fastest growing," said Alla Zotova, General Manager, Bogal Perfumes.

Middle East Exclusive already has buyers from 66 countries pre-registered for the expo and organisers are expecting to smash last year's visitor numbers.

"Visitor pre-registrations, which are a good indicator of the regional and international interest for any exhibition, are already 56% above 2003 numbers and we are heading for a successful show," predicted Justin Boutros, Managing Director, Channels Exhibitions, organisers of Middle East Exclusive.

The show, supported by Dubai Duty Free and Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) will run until December 1. Show timings are from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm on all three days.