JEDDAH: Exhibitors at the Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition (sbie), which ended on Thursday night after a five-day run, reported several successful deals and a record turnout of visitors.
Egypt, Turkey and China, which were among the major participants said their exhibitors had a rewarding experience as they entered into deals or were in the process of reaching partnerships with local businessmen.
US Consul General Martin Quinn, accompanied by Jesse Lapierre Commercial Consul, who was among the diplomats visiting the show, said the wide international participation impressed him. “Although our participation this time was small, we look forward to a stronger presence at this show in the coming years,” he said.
The US was represented by Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel, which is a one-stop-shop for sourcing US technical, industrial, hospitality, contract and medical textiles. Mary Lynn Landgraf, senior international trade specialist, said: “I was pleasantly surprised with the warmth we received from the Saudi community and the excellent response to our products from some of the major business houses, which will ultimately translate into huge orders.”
Erid Brand, another US exhibitor responsible for the design and manufacture of residential and hospitality furniture, was overwhelmed with the response he received at the show. “Even if 10 percent of the number of inquiries we had for our products at the show materialize, it would mean good business for our company,” said Craig Taylor, an international sales executive.
Individual participants came from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait, Taiwan, Thailand, Lebanon, Kuwait and the UAE. “We exhibited here for the first time and never knew it could be so fruitful,” said Andrey G. Khaustov, deputy general director of Moscow-based Castwall.
Building and construction equipment and products, as well as industry related items like air-conditioning and heating, architectural finishing, electrical supplies and equipment, engineering services, environmental technology, landscape and hardscape, lighting, real estate, safety and security, stone, marble and granite, and water technology featured the exhibition in its building section.
Its interiors section showcased hotels and leisure products and services, office environment, outdoors and landscape design, schools and hospitals, shopping malls and restaurants, and decors and furnishings for the home.
