Industry officials upbeat on the growth in demand driven by Expo 2020 as Dubai WoodShow kicks off at the Dubai World Trade Centre
The 13th edition of Dubai WoodShow, which was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi Cabinet Member and Minister of Infrastructure Development, in the presence of H.E. Pacome Moubelet Bouyeba, Gabonese Minister of Forest, Vira Khmerova, Vice President of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Wood Processing, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, along with other key international dignitaries from the UAE and Dubai government entities, has witnessed a flurry of business activities amongst visitors and participating companies at the three-day international trade event.
“Exhibitions such as Dubai WoodShow are very important to our economy that showcases the latest technology, innovation in the industry,” Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi Cabinet Member and Minister of Infrastructure Development, said following the inauguration of the event. “The wood industry is a very important value-add sector in our economy and I am pleased with such a wonderful exhibition taking place in Dubai.”
The three-day international trade show that showcases the latest wood products, woodworking, machine tools and new technology, is participated by more than 412 exhibitors from 55 countries and includes six country pavilions – Canada, China, Finland, Russian Federation, Turkey and the USA.
Gabonese Minister of Forest and Environment Pacome Moubelet Bouyeba, said, “We are a major supplier of wood and this exhibition offers a great insight into our industry. I am amazed to see the wide variety of displays and offerings, products and services at the show that all stakeholders could take advantage of.
“We are a country where 88 percent of the land is covered with forest – that helps the wood industry to produce US$1 billion revenues a year. I have attended a large number of wood exhibitions. However, Dubai WoodShow offers the best technologies and products and services. I am amazed at what I have seen in this exhibition.”
Organised by Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, the event works as an industry barometer on the overall woodworking market and the induction of new concepts, ideas and technologies. More than 10,000 trade visitors are expected to participate at the international event – including visitors from the GCC and other markets to source the latest products, services, machineries as well as renew their existing trade relations.
Dawood Al Shezawi, President of Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, says, “Dubai WoodShow provides an important gateway for wood and timber traders, woodworking machineries suppliers, furniture and joineries to take advantage of the latest technologies and innovations in the industry – which is changing very fast.
“The massive construction activities in the GCC, especially in Dubai that is driven by Expo 2020-related infrastructure and projects – will continue to drive demand for wood products and we expect to see the wood import and export value to exceed Dh4 billion recorded in 2016 – in the following years.
“We are pleased to bring more than 412 exhibitors from 55 countries and expect the visitor turnout to exceed that of the previous editions of Dubai WoodShow – that has created an important benchmark for the industry.”
Dubai WoodShow is being supported by its strategic partner Steel Wood Industries, SIMCO, Hettich and a number of other partners. Most exhibitors participating at the event expressed their deep satisfaction on the visitor flow at the event. Officials of the Russian Pavilion, Gabon Special Economic Zone, AHEC, SCM, Homag, Biesse, Cefla, GTM, AIMSAD and Chabros reported strong trade inquiries.
Parameswaran K.A., Managing Director at Hettich Middle East, says, “Hettich has grown four-fold in the last six years. We are bringing the latest product concepts and innovation to the market for the furniture and joinery factories to deliver the latest innovations at home for greater consumer comfort.
“Till today we were producing products, such as hinges, drawer systems and folding and sliding door systems. Now we have launches our door products and also opened a company in India two years back where we make wire baskets for kitchens, to keep oil bottles and plates. So those things are now made in India by Hettich. Because India is the biggest market for this kind of product we put the factory there.
“We also got factories in China to manufacture door locks, handles and hinges. So, we are spread wide. As a company with an eye on innovation, we keep coming up with new ideas and trends, for the furniture manufacturer using Hettich’s products. In these kinds of exhibition, we talk to customers, get their feedback, know what’s happening in the market.
“In 5 years’ time we will see the look of kitchens will change, where you will see a TV set coming up from the centre to help people watch TV while cooking. We are continuously innovating.”
Raed Zuhier Damrah, Manager of Wood Division of SIMCO Industrial Machines Trd. Co., says, “The manufacturing sector is aggressively booming year after year. We have seen massive growth in our industry and by year 2020 we have great expectations from this market. The advantage of being with SIMCO is that we are financially strong enough to undergo any face growth.”
SIMCO, a company that celebrates its silver jubilee this year, showcased new technologies-enabled and high-performance machineries that will boost industrial output in the UAE and GCC – at the Dubai WoodShow.
The UAE’s Dh4 billion wood and wood products trade will get a solid growth push from the Dh285 billion real estate transactions in Dubai’s real estate sector in 2017 as the emirate sees more than 50,000 new homes are delivered in the emirate in 2017 and 2018.
B.M. Ashraf, Managing Director of Mohiuddin Woodworks, says, the UAE-based company in operation for the last 25 years, is investing Dh70 million in a large saw mill in the UAE, as part of an expansion of the Dh100 million turnover company.
“We get logs from all over the world, Malaysia, Africa, south America and soft woods are coming from US, Canada, New Zealand and Europe. We mainly supply for the oil and gas industries in UAE and mostly all government works and ministries. This our 25th year. We are opening another saw mill in Ajman which will be our 3rd,” he says.
“Dubai WoodShow is picking up and we are expecting more business from this show. We are with Dubai WoodShow from the time it has started. They always want us as we are working purely with timbers.”
According to the International Trade Statistics – a global gateway, the UAE’s total trade in wood and wood products reached US$1.1 billion (Dh4 billion) in 2016, including US$920.21 million (Dh3.37 billion) worth of imports and US$185.88 million worth of exports.
This is part of the Dh1.56 trillion worth of external trade recorded by the UAE in 2016. The total volume of non-oil foreign trade in the UAE was about 232.7 million tonnes, of which 101.3 million tonnes were weight of imports, 112.9 million tonnes were weight of exports and 18.6 million tonnes was weight of re-exports.
Demand for wood, wood products and woodworking industry is expected to grow further due to the ongoing construction projects the value of which in September 2017 reached $252.7 billion (Dh927.4 billion), according to BNC Network, there were 7,531 projects.
According to a latest Ventures Middle East market research, the size of spending in the GCC countries in terms of home decoration and decoration rose from $15.5 billion in 2016 to more than $17.7 billion in 2017, giving the exhibition an added advantage as it brings together the world’s largest manufacturers of furniture, wood products and furniture fittings worldwide to meet the Local and regional market needs.
A large number of businessmen active in the same field are expected to visit the exhibition, in line with the growth of trade and development.
Dubai WoodShow runs along with Dubai International Furniture, Accessories and Components (DIFAC), specialised in the field of furniture and machines for the manufacture of wood products and accessories. It also brings together a large number of participants worldwide. More than 300 exhibitors cover 17,000 square metres of net occupied exhibition space at the Dubai World Trade Centre, attracting the world’s largest companies.
The number of visitors coming to the exhibition is expected to cross last year’s 10,000 visitors.