Dubai – The debt crisis in Europe has not affected participation of companies on the continent in the Big 5, the building sector fair in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, taking place up to Thursday (24). On the contrary, the number of exhibitors from some countries remained practically stable and even rose.
The phenomenon may be explained by the fact that, as their domestic markets are on the low, the Europeans are seeking greater space for their products abroad. "[Participation in the fair] was not affected as companies are trying to export, as their domestic markets are down,” said Dimitris Papandreou, finance executive at Hellas Exports, a Greek company that exports marble.
Greece is among the countries most affected by the crisis in Europe, but the Greek pavilion at the fair had a record number of exhibitors: 47. "This (Dubai) is a good option. It is not what it used to be, but there are works in progress and there is also Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. That is why people come here,” explained Papandreou, who is not related to former Greek prime minister George Papandreou.
The organizer of the Italian pavilion, the largest at the fair, with around 300 companies, Mariateresa Malakos, from DMG Events, which also organizes the Big 5, presented a similar analysis. "Without exporting [businessmen] would not survive, as Europe is down,” she said.
She pointed out that in the Middle East, on the other hand, the economies are growing and selling to the countries of the region may offer certain help. "Representatives from all the surrounding countries [referring to the Emirates] come to the Big 5,” she stated. The number of Italian companies at the fair is more or less the same as last year, but the space covered has risen, according to Mariateresa.
The companies are in all sectors, including water resource technology, air conditioning, doors and windows, paint, decoration, marble, machinery and equipment, among others. "There is a mix of all kinds of products,” she said.
Jorge Marcolino, from the Portuguese Business Association (AEP), the organizer of the Portuguese stand, observed that the Portuguese market is already small and has become even smaller with the crisis. "Due to these needs, we have to come and seek new shares in foreign markets,” he said.
In this respect, he mentioned the markets of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, especially Brazil and Argentina, and Eastern Europe. "The Middle East is a bet for coming years,” he said, placing special emphasis on Saudi Arabia and Qatar, countries mentioned by ten out of every ten exhibitors as the most promising at the moment. "This show (fair) is important for the whole region,” he pointed out.
The Portuguese pavilion has 17 companies in sectors like cork, tiles, doors, granite, ceramics and machinery, among others. The total is the same as in 2010.
Regarding visitation at the fair, Mariateresa said that it is "much better" than last year, Marcolino said that the volume of visitors is “very interesting” and the operating director at Hellas Exports, Evangelos Nikitatis, said that the movement is good, but that it is necessary to wait for results after the event.
*Translated by Mark Ament
