JEDDAH, 26 December 2004 — ITEX 2004, the third international industries trade exhibition, opened at the Jeddah International Exhibition Center yesterday, showcasing industrial machineries and products from a dozen countries.
The range of goods on display impressed Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, who marked the opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. “This shows the vast potential that the Kingdom has for all such and many more products of quality and design,” he remarked during his tour of exhibits.
The expo, the third annual show organized by the Jeddah International Exhibition Co., has a distinctly independent area for Egypt. The rest of the exhibition space is occupied by a large Saudi pavilion together with companies from various other countries, including China, Pakistan, Palestine, Malaysia, Yemen, Morocco, Iran, Syria and the UAE.
Cairo-based Egyptian Exhibition Manager Muhammad Shams said 90 of his country’s companies represented by 200 of their officials were participating in the show. Attractively designed handmade furniture is among the highlights of the Egyptian show, which has many other items, including engineering goods, antiques, textiles, dresses, leather products, kitchenware and food items. “We’ve been regularly showcasing our products in this market and hope to expand our export base,” Shams told Arab News.
Carpets, handicrafts, traditional jewelry and food and nutrition items including walnuts dominate the Iranian pavilion. “As always, we expect lot of inquiries for our carpets, especially handmade, and traditional jewelry and handicrafts from both visitors and local distributors,” K. Noei, deputy director of West Azarbaijan International Exhibitions Co., based in Orumiyeh, Iran, said. Sixteen Iranian companies, including Iran Tractor Industrial Machinery Co., which offers a range of tractors, have taken stands at the show. Iranian exhibitors have products ranging from shawls and scarves, handmade carpets, gadgets for fruit juices, precious stones and a host of other machineries and manufactured goods.
Similarly, Syria has a big representation of 17 firms.
While China is represented by a company dealing in artistic paintings, frames, pictures and furniture, Pakistan has listed nine companies dealing in appliances, clothing material and dresses for women and children, and apparels, aside from food items including rice. Two dozen companies from Palestine, seven from Yemen and three from Morocco also have their stands displaying manufactured items.
A company from Dubai is exhibiting uniforms for government departments and corporate industries, as well as for hospitals and hotels.