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Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E), the name behind the celebrated Dubai air
show, has announced that the first Middle East aviation industry pavilion to be launched at
an international event has sold out.
The initiative, launched to promote the region’s aerospace and aviation
industry to the global market, is to debut at the Farnborough International air show in the
UK this July.
Participants in the trail-blazing, island-style pavilion include: Royal
Jet, the Abu Dhabi-based premium private jet charter service; the Department of Civil
Aviation, Government of Dubai; Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran-based Arabian Fuels
Technology, Middle East Aviation Journal and F&E, which will use the event to
promote Dubai 2005 – the ninth international aerospace exhibition.
“The original 50 square metres allocated at Farnborough for this
pavilion is now full and we are now in discussions with the show
organisers, the Society of British Aerospace Companies to see if the pavilion can be enlarged to cope with
demand,” explained Alison Weller, Project Manager, Aerospace Group, F&E. “We
will also now concentrate heavily on organising delegation visits to the pavilion.
“The success of this initiative highlights a willingness for Middle East
companies to look beyond their own region and based on demand, we are now also
entering into discussions with the organisers of the Le Bourget air show in Paris
to launch a similar pavilion at that event in June next year.”
F&E says the regional pavilion initiative followed research which showed
that Middle East companies were conspicuous by their absence at all international
shows apart from the Dubai air show and IDEX in Abu Dhabi.
“This initiative is a cost-effective option for the growing indigenous
aviation industry within the Middle East to have an international voice and build the
region’s profile within this important segment,” explained Weller. “It also makes it
easier for individual regional companies to take part in international industry
events.”
With the organisational expertise of F&E behind them, pavilion
participants simply arrive at the show, unpack their brochures and start
selling.
The Middle East aviation pavilion is a not-for-profit venture with
revenue being received by F&E covering the cost of hiring exhibition
space and the construction and maintenance of the structure.
“F&E can also handle all the participants requirements, including
stand-fitting, stand cleaning, lounge facilities, refreshments, office facilities and shipping,”
explained Weller.
Given the success of the Farnborough pavilion and depending upon
response to a similar initiative for Le Bourget, F&E says a dedicated
Middle East industry arena could also be organised at other major shows in China, Africa and
Australia.
“We could also mount highly specialised pavilions at market-related
events such as the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition
(EBACE) in Geneva, the National Business Aircraft Association meeting in
the USA and the Air Traffic Control exhibition in The Netherlands,” said
Weller. |
