JEDDAH, 2 May 2004 — Several international exhibitors are leaving the Kingdom very happy after participating in the five-day Saudi Building and Interiors show that ended here over the weekend. These companies reported making deals running into millions of riyals, which have either already been clinched or are in the pipeline.
Local agents and distributors looked cheerful as some claimed that they had signed deals with overseas partners, or had laid the groundwork for finalizing contracts in the days to come. “Deals were very much expected, as there has been a boom in the construction industry across the Kingdom,” said Stephano Smars, economic and commercial attaché at the Belgium Embassy. The embassy had been getting regular inquiries about products and services related to the construction industry, he added.
Alf Electric Company, a Riyadh-based company dealing in wiring accessories, has finalized a major deal with a Saudi company to provide electrical accessories for its multimillion-dollar housing project in Africa. “We signed a deal with a Saudi contractor to supply wiring accessories for a complex of 1,500 villas worth $150 million in Africa. It was signed on the third day of the event,” said Salem Wannous, general manager of Alf Electric.
Exhibitors were, however, divided on whether the Kingdom is witnessing a boom in this sector. Although there are construction activities in progress all around, “this could at best be termed as a mini-boom,” said Mongkol Somkanae, director at the Thai Trade Center. The expo, organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions was timely as demand is continuously on the increase for building materials and services, visitors said.
Many exhibitors felt that local investors are diverting their funds invested in the West and reinvesting them within the Kingdom, especially in the construction sector.
The enormous demand for granite in the Kingdom prompted us to participate in the show, said Rudy Altafini, export manager at Madaschi Granite Tiles of Italy. “This was our company’s first experience in participating in a trade show related to building and construction, and the response received was very much encouraging,” he said.
Some exhibitors were delighted to have struck new deals, while others felt the expo provided the required springboard for all participants and facilitated an exchange of information about the latest products and services. “Some of the French participants found the show rewarding as they could establish local contacts, which could bear fruit in the future,” said Jeremie Hallot, representing the French diplomatic mission’s commercial section.
Alain Matos, export manager of a French contracting company, Krings International, said his company did not bag any direct deals during the show, but received inquiries from two leading Saudi groups. “A project on offer is to conduct a feasibility study for a major sewage plan in Jeddah, and we look forward to putting in our bid.”
