Region's leading airport supplies exhibition opens for business

Sheikh Ahmed was accompanied by Laith Kubba and Nick Webb, directors of Streamline Marketing and organisers of the event, as he cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the three-day exhibition taking place at Airport Expo Dubai.

He then toured the exhibition hall where more than 300 exhibitors representing over 30 countries are displaying a vast number of products and services vital to airports.

For the first time, the event features an official Dutch national pavilion under the banner of The Netherlands Airport Technology Group (NAT), which represents 16 of the country's leading airport suppliers of passenger and cargo handling technologies. The pavilion is also supported by the trade promotion department of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs.

"Our participation comes as a direct result of the visit of Dutch Minister of Transport, Karla Peijs, to Dubai and the Sultanate of Oman in January and February this year, which highlighted to our suppliers the great scope for cooperation with the region's decision makers," said Leendert Remmelink, Sector Manager, NAT.

"While all our members are active throughout the region, we hope the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition will give us a chance to further strengthen these ties and create new ones," he said.

The Airport Build & Supply Exhibition is also supported by France's leading airport suppliers' association - French Airport & ATC Technology (PROAVIA) as well as the German Airport Technology & Equipment Association (GATE) and the British Airports Group (BAG).

For the first time this year, the event features seminars designed to introduce exhibitors to some of the region's most exciting airport development projects. Delegates will get to hear first hand from decision makers involved in the ambitious airport projects in Dubai, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Also under the spotlight will be Qatar's US$5 billion New Doha International Airport, as well as the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Iran, Yemen's Sana'a International Airport and Angola's Luanda International Airport. Middle East investors will also be given a chance to participate in a public-private partnership project set to transform India's oldest airport at Nagpur into an international passenger and cargo hub.

Another new feature at the event is a dedicated Civil Aviation Lounge containing information booths representing departments of civil aviation from India to Morocco, Yemen, Saudi, Egypt as well as the UAE.

"The Airport Build & Supply exhibition has become a major regional showcase and this year we've gathered decision-makers from four continents, bringing with them shopping lists for some of the world's most exciting airport projects," said Nick Webb.