DUBAI - The Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show 2009 will be hosting over 200 leading international and local companies, as the show has grown 20 per cent from the previous year, according to Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director of Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, or SME, the organiser of the show. To leverage the need for wood working technologies as a result of the high demand for wood products in the region, the show aims to gather buyers, retailers, wholesalers and industry professionals from across the globe.
“We have seen the importance of a steady supply of high quality wood products in the construction of property developments in the UAE, and it is our aim to give UAE-based customers access to high quality products from globally renowned suppliers, ” Al Shezawi said in a press conference on Sunday.
The UAE is among the top four importers of softwood lumber in the GCC, who, along with Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have collectively imported a total of 2.8 million cubic metres of the product, equivalent to $576.6 million in 2007.
UAE wood imports crossed $5.2 billion, according to statistics from the department of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. The report revealed that imports and re-exports of all types of timber into the region are at an all time high; a demand that has increased the need for specialist woodworking machinery and tools.
Despite the global recession, we see UAE and Gulf region as strong market for the UAE wood exports and 20 companies from USA are participating in the show this year, Orn Gudmundsson, Chairman of the American Hardwood Export Council told Khaleej Times.
· aneela@khaleejtimes.com
