Al Mashriq in Dhs 10 million Dubai Investment Park project

The project was announced at The Office Exhibition, the Middle East's first dedicated trade show for the office interiors and facilities management sector, which closed a three-day run at the Airport Expo Dubai, alongside The Hotel Show, on Wednesday night.

"We are building a 130,000 square foot factory which we hope to have ready by December," said Samer Katbi, General Manager, AMFM. "This is all part of a plan to expand our product range. The new facility will enable us to also manufacture foam and woodwork which, until now we have outsourced."

Al Mashriq was at The Office Exhibition in a bid to expand its export base throughout the Middle East.

"We are currently exporting to the GCC as well as some North African states and the CIS," said Katbi.

"We want to supply to all Middle East countries and also hope to enter the European market shortly."

Companies and products from 15 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Russia took part in The Office Exhibition, which is organised by dmg Index Exhibitions. The show won widespread praise from visitors who said the annual event is filling a long-overdue void in the market.

"It is a very industry specific show, which is what was needed," said Hayat Kartal, Managing Director of Verda Foreign Trade of Turkey, which specialises in import and export and acts as a market information analyst. "We believe the show will grow significantly because the region is becoming more conscious about office ergonomics and design."