THE Construction Products Association, the official accredited trade organiser appointed by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), in collaboration with international event management partner Building Exhibitions Management will be once again co-ordinating the UK pavilion at The Big 5 show this year.

A total of 49 UK companies will be participating in The Big 5 within the UK pavilion in a bid to create awareness of their products and services and reinforce their presence in the GCC region.

Despite the continuing worldwide economic downturn, UK companies are still committed to export with a particular focus on the Middle East and once again have a major presence at the show this year, larger than any other construction exhibition worldwide in 2011, says a senior official for the association.

“The companies who are participating at the show this year know how important it is to have a presence at this exhibition. It is quite simply ‘the’ event for the industry and you have to be seen at The Big 5 if you want to meet with the major players and you are serious about exporting to this region,” says the association’s chief executive Michael Ankers, adding that companies that exhibit now in the somewhat current downturn, will reap the benefits in future years.
The UK pavilion will include a vast array of companies, some of which are small and medium enterprises (SMEs) new to the market and are financially supported by the UKTI.

“Many new faces will be at the show for the first time including Temati, Uretek, Stuart Turner and Dwyer Instruments. And those companies back once again, showing their commitment and dedication to the Middle East market, include Roll Roy, SPE International, Dura Composite, Command Alkon and Satellite Industries,” Ankers says.

“We are also delighted to have Dyson exhibiting here once again in 2011 and Marley, also present at the show, proving how both small and large organisations in the UK believe that the Middle East is still such a vital market,” he adds.

The product profile of companies exhibiting will cover various industries including environmental, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and water treatment, together with products from the huge and diverse building materials and construction sector.

The Construction Products Association acts as a single, influential voice for the manufacturers and suppliers of construction products in the UK. One of the vital roles that the association plays is to assist UK companies with their export activities and, through UKTI, has an involvement in co-ordinating UK pavilions at major international building and construction exhibitions each year.

“The companies we have on our pavilion illustrate the wide range of products available from the UK and demonstrate how innovative the UK industry is. The group reflects the growing importance that these companies are giving to the environment. The government is undoubtedly taking a lead with ambitious policies related to energy efficiency, resource efficiency, and water-saving facilities, and UK manufacturers and suppliers are responding to the opportunity this presents for the development of innovative products and solutions,” says Ankers.

“The response we have received from UK companies wishing to participate at the show, despite the difficult times we are all facing, underlines how vital the Gulf region is in export terms,” he adds.

Also commenting on The Big 5, Simona Novelli, project director, Building Exhibitions Management, says: “The Big 5 attracts visitors from all over the region and it is important that companies understand that they are not just targeting the UAE, they can reach the entire Gulf region and beyond by having a presence at The Big 5.”

She says the support offered for certain SMEs by the UKTI is vital to those companies who are new to the region. “We are pleased that the UKTI is able to assist these organisations with their export efforts and I am confident that all the exhibitors within the UK pavilion will enjoy a tremendous amount of success from business they generate from being at this exhibition.

“These are challenging times and both the Construction Products Association and ourselves are delighted that so many UK companies are positioning themselves to compete and actively win business in this market and it is our aim to support them every step of the way,” says Novelli.

The UK pavilion can be visited in Hall 2, with details of the Construction Products Association and participating companies made available at Stand 2C90 at The Big 5.