gulfBID 2006 opens

Also on hand for the opening ceremony were other ministers, senior government officials, governors, MPs and ambassadors, underscoring the importance of the prestigious trade event for Bahrain.

They included Works and Housing Minister Fahmi Al Jowder, Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Ali Saleh Al Saleh, Minister of Water and Electricity Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister's Court Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the General Organisation for Youth and Sport Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Manama Governor Sheikh Humood bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Muharraq Governor Salman bin Hindi.

Jointly organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) and dmg world media Dubai, gulfBID enjoys the Royal patronage of Bahrain's Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Ali toured the entire exhibition hall and talked to several of the international, regional and local exhibitors, keenly inspecting the range of products on display.

'I am impressed by the number of companies taking part in the exhibition,' Sheikh Ali commented. 'The Gulf offers a lot of opportunities and companies from all over the world are keen to take part in the region's massive development.'

Sheikh Ali also had words of praise for the event's organisers, HCE and dmg world media Dubai. 'I thank Al Hilal Group and its chairman Anwar Abdul Rahman for bringing such an important event to Bahrain. Our government is firmly committed to supporting such initiatives which help enhance Bahrain's standing. I wish the exhibition every success and I hope it grows bigger next year,' he said.

Meanwhile, Al Jowder said that the event could not have come at a better time for Bahrain. 'We are witnessing a revolutionary period in the building materials industry and exhibitions such as this are ideal venues to launch new products. Companies are spending a lot of money on research and development of new, economical and environmentally-friendly products. gulfBid will help these products to reach the end-user.'

He said his ministry was keen to use the latest technology in housing and was studying the use of new materials in construction.

Commenting on the first day of the show, HCE general manager Abdulla Shafeea said that the response had exceeded his expectations. 'It has been excellent, and Bahrain's government has extended us a solid show of support. Even the visitor and exhibitor traffic turnout has exceeded our expectations.'

dmg world media Dubai managing director Bernard Walsh said he was encouraged by the events of the first day. 'I've spoken to several of the exhibitors and most of them have informed me that the quality of the visitors has been extremely high. And, I was also delighted to learn that some of them have already conducted serious deals.'

As many as 110 exhibitors, from as afar as New Zealand, are participating at gulfBID, which is one of the largest construction and interior design events for the Northern Gulf.

Positioned as a key exhibition platform for Bahrain, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and the markets of Qatar, Kuwait and even Iraq, gulfBID is expected to prove invaluable for exhibitors, whether for establishing firm contacts or winning lucrative business deals, while visitors have the opportunity to see, first hand, a diverse array of products and services, all under one roof.

dmg is the organiser of Big 5 and Index, the region's largest construction and interior design exhibitions, held in Dubai annually.
Experts say that the GCC is in the midst of a massive construction boom with nearly 2,000 projects under way, at a combined value of over $1 trillion and gulfBID 2006 is expected to prove a rewarding experience for exhibitors who are looking to boost their business in the Gulf's construction hotspot, as well as to trade visitors who are seeking new contacts, products and services.

The inaugural three-day event runs until Thursday, May 18.