JEDDAH, 4 March 2005 — Jeddah will be the venue for 10 major trade exhibitions, beginning with the annual Middle East Education and Trading Exhibition and Symposium from March 6-10.
The show is the 11th international event for education, training, human resources equipment, aids and services.
Alongside a large number of Saudi organizations, countries participating in this annual event include Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Malaysia, India, the UAE and Egypt.
A symposium on subjects related to the field of education, training, employment and human resources will be part of this exhibition, with the support of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“Vocational education and training is seen as an important part of the government’s program of Saudization, which is aimed to provide jobs for Saudis as opposed to foreign nationals and reduce an estimated 15 percent unemployment among the citizens,” a spokesman for Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Ltd. (ACE) said yesterday.
This will be followed by MACHITECH — 2nd Turkish Machine & Machinery Equipment Exhibition being held from April 3 to 7. Turkey is repeating this exhibition after its “tremendous success” in 2004.
Turkish exhibitors will showcase the latest technology and widest variety of machinery & equipment covering many industry sectors.
Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition & Symposium is Saudi Arabia’s annual event set from April 17 to 21. This is the 14th comprehensive showcase for the industry.
The Saudi Council of Engineers will organize a symposium on the sidelines of this exhibition, which will discuss and deliberate issues related to the building sector that continues to boom.
Food & Hotel Arabia, which is marking its 10th anniversary, will be held in conjunction with Propac Arabia from May 1 to 5.
“This was a biennial event, which from this year becomes an annual exhibition due to its growing importance and demand,” the spokesman said.
This will feature the popular “Top Chef Arabia” professional cooking contest with local and international prominent chefs.
The other exhibitions for the season are International Trade Fair — the 23rd annual multi-sectoral trade expo for light industries, consumer goods, clothing, leather goods, fashion accessories, giftware and textiles, from May 15 to 19.
The only medical exhibition in the Kingdom this year is the biennial Saudi Healthcare — 13th anniversary of Saudi Arabia’s international medical insurance, dental, pharmaceutical, scientific equipment & labware exhibition and symposium set from May 29-June 2.
Alongside this show will run Saudi Hospital — Saudi Arabia’s 3rd International Event for non-Medical Hospital Infrastructure, Supplies and Furnishings.
Recreation and Leisure Fair (RALF) is being newly added this year as an annual event. It will be dedicated to promoting tourism, leisure and sport in the Kingdom and scheduled from June 15-20.
Jeddah’s International Book Fair 2005 will follow from Sept. 3-11. ACE’s flag show, Saudi Motor Show will be held from Nov. 13-18. This will be Saudi Arabia’s 27th International Event for Motor Vehicles, incorporating Autocare and the Offroad and 4x4 Show. ACE is planning a series of exciting attractions and features for the automotive enthusiasts.
This year’s itinerary ends with COMMTEL, Saudi Arabia’s 20th annual event for Computing, Computer Shopper, the Internet, Office Equipment and Accessories, Business Communications and Mobile Phones from Dec. 12-16.
All exhibitions will be held at JCCI’s purpose-built International Exhibition & Convention Center on Madinah Road.