500 companies from 50 countries participate in the DIHAD 2005 exhibition

The event will be held in cooperation with Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Dubai Aid City, and officially supported by the UAE Red Crescent, the United Nations, and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI).

A press conference was held today at the Dubai International Exhibition Center to announce the event and its proposed schedule. The conference will address topics which had previously been finalized and announced by the DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board during its meeting early in November 2004. These topics include : Procurement of Humanitarian Aid, Emergency Response and Disaster Management, Public, private, and agency Partnerships, Advances in the Fight Against Malaria, Mobilization of Resources, Good Humanitarian Donorship and Darfur: Challenges and Opportunities.

Mr. Adbul Salam Al Madani, Managing Director of INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions Organization Est. stated that over 80 % of the exhibition has been sold out. 'There are about 500 exhibitor companies who represent more than 50 countries', he said.

Mr. Sultan Lootah, Manager of Business Promotion at Dubai Chamber of Commerce spoke on the vision of the DCCI reflected in the new strategy in terms of the keen interest of the organization on sharing the public issues of the community. He stressed that the 'Dubai, the City that Cares' is an initiative that expresses that tendency towards charity and humanitarian action, considering that 50 % of the prizes and draws go to charity projects.

Mr. Nadir Hadj-Hammou, Vice-Chairman of the International Scientific Advisory Board and Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in the UAE, emphasized on the importance of Dubai as a hub for humanitarian and charity actions, recalling the remarks of Mr. Kofi Anan, Secretary-General of United Nations in that regard.