Conmex to debut at Expo Centre Sharjah on November 25

The four-day exhibition will display the entire range of construction related machinery, equipment, and vehicles used in the construction process including plant and machinery, commercial vehicles, lifting and conveying equipment, construction equipment, tools and special systems, formwork and scaffolding, construction site facilities, spare parts and accessories, communication and navigation equipment, and safety equipment.

"The Middle East construction industry is one of the fastest growing in the world," said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

"However, the region lacks a comprehensive sourcing platform that is capable of catering to the growing demands of the construction sector. Conmex, given its exclusive and unique exhibit profile, is aimed at filling that void," he added.

The Middle East construction industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented boom. In fact, there has been a significant increase in construction activities in both the public as well as the private sector.

Whereas the public sector has witnessed the construction of significant numbers of hospitals, mosques, fire stations, tourist facilities, educational institutions, the private sector, on the other hand, has been focusing on the growth of hotels, leisure, and commercial developments, shopping malls, apartment blocks, condominiums, and trade towers.

At present, there are 1,400 on going projects in the Gulf region with a value in the region of US$697 billion. Of this, the UAE accounts for US$221 billion (32%) of the projects and Saudi Arabia for US$146 billion (21%). The total construction spend in the GCC, Iran, and Iraq, is currently running at US$294 billion.

The rise in construction activities in the region has resulted in a huge consequent demand for related machinery, equipment, and vehicles. The enormity of the demand can be gauged from the fact that in Dubai alone over 30,000 towering cranes are in operation. As per statistics available, there are 125,000 tower cranes operating worldwide.

"The demand for construction related machinery, equipment, and vehicles in the region is massive. At present, the annual market demand just for used machinery in the Middle East is valued at over Dhs. 5 billion," said Mr. Saif Al Midfa.

"Conmex is aimed at providing the Middle East construction sector with a one-stop sourcing platform,"

he said.

Conmex will attract key personnel and decision makers from the industry, contracting companies, traders, distributors, stockists of construction machinery and equipment, service providers including transport companies, consultants, renting and leasing agencies, and Public administration and building authorities from across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

A major highlight of the Conmex exhibition will be its colocation with the Autoparts Re-export Show, which is the Middle East's most focused trade event for automotive aftermarket business, and the Chinese Commodities Fair Sharjah (CCFS), China's largest trade event in the Middle East.

Whereas CCFS will host a large number of Chinese manufacturers, traders and distributors of construction and related material, the Autoparts Re-export Show will be of consequence to those dealing in commercial vehicles.

Conmex is being organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).