Many of Britain's construction material manufacturers have been established in the Gulf states for several decades but there are numerous others whose potential to export their products to the region goes unrecognised due in part to a lack of knowledge of what information and assistance is available to them prior to visiting the market.

Established in 1932, The Building Centre situated on Store Street, London, has for many years been a permanent venue for UK's building material producers to display their products to visiting architects, consultants and contractors from around the world.

Incorporated within the centre is a comprehensive bookshop supplying the latest publications and an independent information resource representing all sectors and professional disciplines within the construction industry.

The Building Centre welcomes more than 2,300 visitors every week and around 600 enquiries weekly through its telephone service and web site (www.buildingcentre.co.uk). Approximately 65 per cent of these enquiries are submitted to its Information Services Department which is an extensive and unique resource providing product and technical data on all aspects of the worldwide construction industry.

Located within the Building Centre and an integral part of it is the UK's Export Action Centre for Building Materials.

The primary function of the Export Action Centre and its committee is to encourage and assist UK building material manufacturers in their exporting activities, especially those companies looking to venture internationally for the first time.

Members of the Export Action Centre represent a diverse cross-section of the UK building material industry and manufacture and supply roofing and flooring products, kitchen and bathroom equipment, bricks and tiles, storage tanks, insulation material, windows, construction chemicals, drainage systems, ventilation products, fire protection systems, paints and wood preservers.

The markets of the Middle East have always focused and continue to focus on the exporting strategy of many of the members who - through a regular newsletter, lead service, networking evenings and access to information regarding international trade missions to and from the UK - are kept aware of opportunities in the Gulf markets.

Frequent visits and presentations by British Embassy commercial officers at the conference facilities situated at Store Street provide the ideal opportunity for members and guests to gain up-to-date information regarding potential markets for their products.

Many of the Export Centre's member companies have been involved in supplying their products to some of the most prestigious projects in the Gulf including the Burj Al Arab, Hyatt and Holiday Inn Hotels in Dubai, the Four Seasons Hotels in Egypt and Jordan, Banque Audi project in Beirut, Lebanon, QatarGas and Qatar Petroleum, Marina Mall in Bahrain, Amiri Diwan project in Kuwait and numerous others.

This year, Michael Rose, CBE, chairman of The Building Centre and the Export Action Centre, announced the appointment of Montgomery International as sponsor for the promotion of all its overseas construction industry events which will include the Big 5 Show to be held in Dubai during October - where many UK building material companies are planning to exhibit.

Rose states: "The Building Centre is privileged to further assist UK companies in developing their overseas markets aided by Montgomery International, whose reputation and skills of staging international events adds important value to the services available to our members."

Montgomery International is able to help individual exhibitors in arranging government grants through Trade Partners UK, travel, transport and stand design, and in utilising interpreters within exhibition areas.

Among UK companies already committed to the 2002 Big 5 Show are Armstrong Pumps, ACO International, Bartoline, Blind Trade Supplies, Consort Architectural Hardware, Engel Europa, Frameguard Anchoring Systems and Morgan Rush, exhibiting products ranging from air-conditioning equipment, architectural hardware, drainage systems, fluid flow equipment and sun screening systems.

This month (June) during Interbuild, being held at the NEC in Birmingham, the Building Centre and the Export Action Centre will be responsible for the organisation and hosting of the international visitors lounge, working closely with Trade Partners UK and the exhibition organisers.

Middle East companies looking for potential partners with specific products can benefit greatly from contacting or visiting the Building Centre and the Export Action Centre for Building Materials.

The Gulf states continue to design and build some of the most innovative and prestigious projects in the world but the competitive nature of the market for the supply of building materials makes the choice of the correct quality and type of product to suit the application paramount - this coupled with a proactive agent or distributor are all part of the recipe for success.

The Export Action Centre for Building Materials provides a valuable service in offering UK producers not only with overseas market information but also contacts for international companies looking for the best that Britain has to offer in building materials.

New member companies are always welcomed and encouraged to become part of the Building Centre and of the Export Action Centre and its continuing promotion of Britain's innovative building material industry.