Middle East Exclusive to grow by 35 percent

Organisers, Channels Exhibitions, say the response to the show this year has exceeded their expectations both in terms of visitor and exhibitor response.

"Middle East Exclusive 2004 has drawn over 2000 visitors and more than 65 per cent of the exhibitors have expressed their interest in next year's edition," said Justin Boutros, Managing Director of the company.

"After last year's successful launch, we had to work doubly hard to build on that and judging by the response we had at the show we have achieved our objectives."

The exhibition also had its first country pavilion Germany, which had 13 companies at the show.

Udo Frenzel, organiser of the pavilion said: "The Middle East cosmetics market alone is worth 150 million euros to German companies and we are seeing annual double digit sales growth.

"Middle East Exclusive is a key event for us to access the regional market."

He added that the pavilion would double its size for Middle East Exclusive 2005.

Meanwhile exhibitors at the show are looking forward to coming back Dubai to introduce more products.

Charles Pelegrin, Vice President, Retail Travel Division, Bijoux Terner, USA jewellery, clothing accessories supplier said: "This is our first visit to the show and it has exceeded all our expectations. We are in talks to open a number of stores in the region in the next couple of months.

"We are definitely coming back for next year's show with a bigger stand and are bringing more products, especially targeted towards children and youth."

The Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets for confectionery manufacturers, a fact underlined by the Export Manager for Guylian Belgium, Eugene Van Herrewege.

"The regional market is important for us and we have experienced a 35 - 40% growth in business in the last two years."

"Middle East Exclusive has helped me to meet with buyers that we could not meet outside this region and also network with our existing regional customers," he said.

Jewellery manufacturers expressed similar sentiments and said the growing in-flight and airport duty free sector was a market they were looking to tap.

"We came to the show to specifically target airline and duty free buyers and we met with good quality visitors from the region. We plan to come back to the show again next year," said Jean Biadi, Director, Saint-Yves, Switzerland

Monte-Carlo based Zeades Jewellery reported a good response to their newly launched range which combines sterling silver with coloured leather.

"We have launched our products into the duty free and luxury retail markets at Middle East Exclusive and the response from the market has been excellent especially from India, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon," said the company's Managing Director, Frederic Brega.

Meanwhile visitors who came from 63 countries said Middle East Exclusive fills a void in the region and provides an alternative to other shows in other parts of the world.

"I came especially from Ethiopia to attend this exhibition. We are planning to open a shop in Addis Ababa Airport Duty Free and Middle East Exclusive is a really important event for us and the African duty free industry," said Ato Binyam Berhane, Managing Director, Country Trading Pvt Co from Ethiopia.

K Noorul Ameen, Country Manager - India, Admiral Marine Services Pvt. Ltd, a company that manages ship stores, said: "Middle East Exclusive is a good venue to network with and meet our regional suppliers and associates from the industry."

The show also attracted visitors from inflight sales departments.

"I am in the process of setting up a new airline in Iran in the next four months and have come to the show to source unique and interesting products for our in-flight duty free sales," said Amir S Tabar, Managing Director, Persia Airline, Iran.

Seema Ahmad, Proprietor and Manager, Fashion Shop, visiting from Bahrain said: "I am planning to display my clothes and accessories in duty free outlets in the whole region and Middle East Exclusive offered me a great opportunity to meet and establish contacts with people from all over the region and the world."

The organisation of the show also came in for appreciation from regional visitors.

"What I find particularly appealing about Middle East Exclusive is the organization: everything is well thought-out, from the variety of exhibitors to the relaxing atmosphere where it's easy to sit down and conduct business," said Yazeed M. Radwan Alsharaa, Project Engineer, West Gulf Group, Qatar.

The 2005 edition of Middle East Exclusive will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from December 6 - 8 and will follow the Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup and the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) conference.

Justin Boutros, of Channels Exhibitions, said that he was pleased that once again the exhibition had the full support of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group and thanked him for his continued patronage.

He also thanked Dubai Duty Free managing Director Colm McLoughlin and Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) President Mohamed Mounib for their strong support.