Maltese companies at the leading building materials fair in Dubai

The Malta External Trade Corporation has just led a business delegation to Dubai for the annual Big 5 Show held at the Trade Fair Grounds of the World Trade Centre. This prestigious event is the leading international event in the Gulf region for building materials, construction works, interiors and related products and services. Over 900 exhibitors from 46 countries were present at this fair with the Maltese companies presenting a range of products included aluminium works, coldstores and refrigeration, sewage treatment plants, remote control products for construction, whirlpool baths and paints.

Regular exhibitors such as Mr. Mario Debono of Windmill Ltd., manufacturers of aluminium doors and windows, stated that, 'the Big 5 Show is the main event for our sector in the Gulf region and regular participation is a must. We are pleased with the support extended by METCO and we are confident to win further export orders in the near future'. Mr. Stephen Aquilina of Prestige Ltd., manufacturers of whirlpool baths and components said that 'this event is an important feature in our marketing efforts in the Gulf region. This company was also prominently featured in the 'Gulf Construction' magazine, the main specialised magazine for construction in the Gulf region.

First time participants, FM Environmental Malta Ltd., manufacturers of sewage treatment plants where pleased with the good number of serious trade visitors registered and are confident to penetrate this expanding market in the coming months. Well over 22,000 professional trade visitors attended this year's event and these included importers and distributors of building materials as well as architects, engineers and other business people.

Participation of the event was organised and facilitated by the Malta External Trade Corporation Ltd. (METCO) the national agency responsible for national trade promotion activities. Besides the organisation and support to the Maltese participants, the METCO Information stand was instrumental in promoting Malta as a centre for trade, investment and tourism. Export trade to the Gulf has increased substantially and in 2001 totaled more than US$ 17 million.

Due to the increasing interest in this region, METCO is in the process of setting up a commercial office in Dubai, along the same lines as the METCO office in Libya with the aim of highlighting business opportunities and assisting Maltese entrepreneurs to do business in the Gulf region.