JEDDAH, 20 October — Deals running into several million riyals were struck between participating overseas exhibitors and local businessmen during the five-day international trade and fashion show that ended here on Friday night.
International participation was very strong, with exhibitors representing more than 20 countries in national pavilions and individual displays at the 20th edition of the Kingdom’s multisectoral event that attracted in excess of 9,000 visitors, according to Zahoor Siddique, exhibitions director of Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions, which organized the fair. Besides the Kingdom, participants came from Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and the UAE. They utilized the opportunity to study investment prospects in the Kingdom.
Echoing a rewarding experience and fruitful participation were Bangladesh acting Consul General Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Mohamad Irfan Radzi, of the Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, Xiong Xunlin of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Omar El-Gohary, of Mexico’s Camara Arabe Mexicana de Industria Comercio and Raul A. Fernandes, director of economic promotion, and Sunanda Rajendran of the Bombay-based Indo-Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industries. Jalal O. Thamer, general manager of Thamer Est. for Vending Machine & Foodstuff, was among the local businessmen who expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the fair.
Participating in the second consecutive year, Ali Fakha, marketing manager of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and leader of the island’s group, said: "All our exhibitors are happy with the outcome. We hope to return with a larger group next year."
Xia Xiang, director of the department of foreign trade, said Chinese companies were upbeat about their interaction with their local counterparts. Raul Fernandez, director of Mexico’s economic promotion, said his country’s participation was successful as they had fruitful negotiations with local businessmen. Pichai Saengporgchawal, director of the Thai Trade Center, also echoed this.
In advance of the event, which was opened by Dr. Abdullah Al Gaith, deputy governor of Jeddah, on Monday, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority conducted a symposium at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The authority also had a presence at the show to advise international participants on investment opportunities in the Kingdom.
