JEDDAH: The second Decoration and Home Accessories Exhibition opened here Sunday at the Jeddah International Center for Forums and Events. With the participation of some 100 local and international exhibitors and 500 experts, economists and businesspeople, the five-day event, spread over an area of 10,000 sq m, includes a number of brand names in the furniture and decoration industries. Mohammed Abdul Qader Al-Fadhl, head of the human resources and development fund committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), inaugurated the event along with Abdullah Bin Mahfouz, deputy JCCI chairman, Saleh Al-Turki, former chairman of the Chamber, and Haya Al-Sunaidi, head of the organizing committee, together with a number of economic industry and community figures. Al-Fadhl was briefed on the exhibition that included the most modern furniture and home accessories products in the international markets along with national industry products, including a Saudi Female Creation Corner that displays domestic decor and furniture made by Saudi women. After cutting the opening ribbon, Al-Fadhl pointed out that such international exhibitions are of great importance as they pave the way for a national industry that can add to the national income. “We should also have more national furniture factories to meet the increasing market demand for furniture. This can also create job opportunities for both Saudi men and women,” he said. Mahfouz stated that the exhibition is part of a wider plan to boost the Saudi national economy. “Our businesspeople should now think of taking advantage of investing in the huge local furniture industry market. In this way, they can help boost the country's economy,” he said. According to Al-Sunaidi, the Saudi furniture and decor market is estimated at four billion Saudi riyals. She added that statistics have indicated that the Saudi furniture market is in urgent need of 50,000 specialists.
