The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCI), which is coordinating British participation at the Big 5 show (October 15-19) in Dubai during October, reports good response from UK firms for the show.

Tracing the long-standing role played by the BCI in organising UK participation at overseas shows, project manager Joy Heatley says: "The BCI, founded in 1783, represents the interests of around 6,000 small to large companies from all sectors of industry and business.

"BCI was the first UK organisation to acknowledge the tremendous potential of The Arab Water Technology Show in 1981 and was able to obtain support from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for UK companies participating at that event.

"Two decades later, Arab Water Technology has incorporated air-conditioning, heating, ventilation and refrigeration, building and construction, maintenance and cleaning and recently glass and metal, to become The Big 5 show. It has grown from a single marquee outside the Hilton Hotel to its almost total dominance of the eight halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

"The benefits offered by the export division of the DTI - now known as Trade Partners UK - to UK companies exhibiting at Big 5 are still offered through the BCI. The support is offered twice at The Big 5 as many companies are able to appoint agents or local distributors within one or two years of first arriving in Dubai. It is those agents and distributors which then pick up the baton and 'fly the flag' on behalf of the UK industry.

"Thus when you first approach what you believe is a local company at The Big 5, take a second to look closer, many of his products may well be of UK origin, perhaps from a UK company that previously exhibited within the UK pavilion and which is now established in Dubai and the Gulf region and is planning to export to other shores."

Serving the business community for over 200 years, the chamber retains an influence unmatched by any other organisation in the region and remains the leading centre for all business advice and support services, she points out.

"The chamber's mission statement clearly defines the foundations upon which all of its departments are based: 'To help members fulfill their potential through partnership, the provision of service excellence and the development of the appropriate business and social environment'," Heatley adds.

BCI will have an information stand in Hall 1 at The Big 5 show.