The Kingdom is set to witness a boom in interior designing, with huge demand on building projects making the sector worth $634 billion, said Mazen Batterjee, vice president of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Batterjee was speaking at a press conference organized by the JCCI, in cooperation with MICE Arabia Exhibitions, to announce Jeddah’s second international exhibition on interior design and decoration.

The International Design and Furniture Exhibition (INDEX) will kick off on Nov. 12 under the aegis of JCCI President Saleh Kamel and continue for three days at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events.

“The exhibition will provide opportunities for interior designers and companies to finalize agreements by the end of 2014. The International Design and Furniture Exhibition in Saudi Arabia is meant to support further development of the region’s design industry,” said Batterjee.

More than 150 exhibitors from over 20 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Czech Republic, Turkey and the United States, will showcase furniture, interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, outdoor living and textile products.

He said that Saudi youth will have more scope in the field of interior designing since they will have the chance to meet with international company representatives and businessmen on a one-on-one basis. “There is major potential in this area,” he said.

Eli Rizk, CEO of MICE Arabia Group, said huge investments were being made, both by the government and the private sectors, in hospitality, commercial and residential markets, creating immense opportunities for the interior design sector.

“The Kingdom is one of the fastest growing markets of the Middle East and we are witnessing an incredible boom in the construction industry,” he said. “This has created the need to organize trade fairs such as INDEX to promote development in these sectors.

“We need to set up an exhibition industry in the country for the participation of international companies, who add value to the market.”

He said it was important to establish a platform for businessmen, manufacturers, industrialists and leaders who want to come to Saudi Arabia and explore the local markets for potential trade with the Kingdom.