JEDDAH, 15 November 2007 — Zoeftig & Co. of Britain has recently won a SR2.6 million contract to supply departure gate seating for Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport’s SR5.6 billion revamp.
Congratulating the Cornwall-based company on its success, Andrew Cahn, chief executive of UK Trade and Industry (UKTI), said in London that he was delighted that UKTI had been instrumental in Zoeftig’s success in winning what he called “this significant contract.” He added that UKTI had teams of experts all over the world to help cutting edge companies such as Zoeftig pull off similar deals.
“The advice and support we have received from UKTI in recent years has been excellent and the award was a direct result of Zoeftig’s participation in UKTI’s British Airports Group trade mission to Jeddah in January,” said Graham Tait, regional sales manager of Zoeftig.
Negotiations took the best part of six months and the seating specification, design features as well as price competitiveness were the key elements in being awarded the contract. The contract is part of the “Rush Program” and is due for delivery in November-December this year.
Earlier this year the company took part in a UKTI trade mission to Saudi Arabia, led by British Airports Group (BAG). Organized with the help of UKTI staff based in the British Embassy in Jeddah, the trade mission offered delegates the opportunity to meet representatives from 320 Saudi companies from the mass transport sector each with an interest in purchasing UK expertise.
The award was a direct result of Zoeftig’s participation in the trade mission to Jeddah earlier this year, which proved to be very successful and a cost effective way to entering markets.
Previous ventures for Zoeftig include stools for London’s Caviar House, 12,000 seats for Vegas McCarran Airport and supplying the first ever UK seating to an Indian airport, Mumbai. Established in 1970, the company has grown to be a global leading supplier of public beam seating.
Zoeftig has expanded its Middle East activity in the last 12 months. Sixteen major international airport projects have been completed this year and several more contracts are expected.
“Saudi Arabia is becoming an increasingly important market for the UK, particularly as it now accounts for 25 percent of the Arab world’s GDP,” Cahn said.