RIYADH: An unprecedented number of 900 exhibitors from 35 countries have confirmed participation in Saudi Build 2010 that will open at Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Center on Oct.18, according to a high-ranking official of Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC). Mohammad Al-Hussaini, REC Deputy General Manager said major development projects continue to emerge in different parts of the Kingdom as the Saudi construction sector is expected to grow at a rate of seven percent annually. It is unprecedented to note that Saudi Build this year is also gearing up to facilitate more than 400 high-level pre-scheduled meetings for representatives coming to participate in the event. This is evident from the fact that leading global and regional industry players sought to capitalise on an estimated SR562.5 billion investments in private sector's real estate projects till 2012 and government real estate expenditure of up to SR1.5 trillion during the next five years. “Construction market activity in the GCC is now increasingly being focused on Saudi Arabia in view of relatively slow performance in other markets. Major development projects continue to emerge all over the country as the Saudi construction sector expects to sustain a healthy growth rate of up to 7 percent annually,” said Al-Hussaini. Riyadh Exhibitions Company is the organizer of Saudi Build and Saudi Stone-Tech 2010. Saudi Build 2010, the four-day has already attracted over 900 exhibitors from 35 countries, representing a 30 percent increase in participation from the previous year, he said. Saudi Build 2010 – the 22nd International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, has established itself as a construction reference and the only show that meets the professional expectations of the industry as a whole. The event will be held concurrently with Saudi Stone-Tech – the 13th International Stone and Stone Technology Show, which will showcase products ranging from marble slabs to mosaics and display computerized stone cutting, quarrying and polishing machinery and equipment. “With an aim to capitalize on Saudi Arabia's excellent growth potential, we received enquiries from several new companies that have already confirmed attendance at Saudi Build and Saudi Stone-Tech,” he said. He said Saudi Build 2010 will also have 16 national pavilions from countries such as Belgium and Taiwan and individual participations from Serbia, Sweden and Yemen. Consequently, REC has been making arrangements to expand the exhibition space by around 50 percent to reach 27,000 square meters that's in an anticipation of the large number of participants from international countries, said Al-Hussaini. He said Saudi Build 2010 is supported by more than 20 international trade authorities and associations that allows the event to also accommodate 16 country pavilions. Saudi Build 2010 for the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia will serve as platform for business-to-business meetings during the course of exhibition. This will be an added networking exercise for the participating companies. Over 50 percent of companies are industry peers from Europe and Australia, he said. The business-to-business meetings will facilitate the high-ranking company officials to sign contracts and deals with the local companies in areas of latest technology in construction sector and related products. A major part of Saudi Build is The PMV Series 2010, the international exhibition for Construction Equipment, Plant, Machinery and Vehicles. PMV will cover a combined indoor and outdoor area of more than 5,000 square meters displaying the latest construction heavy machinery and equipment. As the Middle East's largest construction and building material exhibition, Saudi Build will cover the full range of industry topics related to construction and equipment management, air-conditioning, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, concrete and steel technologies, and “green” construction technologies and techniques.
