A Saudi manufacturer of finished marble products will be using SaudiBuild 2002 to further boost its profile throughout the Middle East.

Tiffany Marble and Granite Factory, which belongs to AZA Trading, will be displaying its 'superb quality' marble table-tops, mirror frames, window sills and stairs, according to general manager Ghurman Al Amri.

"Apart from our domestic market, we are looking at breaking into new markets in the Middle East," he adds.

Having participated at last year's SaudiBuild, Al Amri sees the Riyadh exhibition as a key event for the Dammam-based factory.

"We participated at SaudiBuild held last year and the event provided us with a golden opportunity to present our products to the new markets, in addition of acquiring new techniques in this highly-competitive market," he says. "And the results were excellent: we won a large number of projects abroad and registered a remarkable increase in sales."

He continues: "There are several reasons why we exhibit at SaudiBuild.

Established in 1994, Abu Zayed Al Amri Trading Establishment (AZA Trading) is a 100 per cent Saudi company owned by Al Amri.

AZA Trading provides a comprehensive range of products and services to the oil, gas and petrochemical industries as well as commercial, engineering and contracting firms.

"Within a short duration, we became a leading supplier of electrical, instrumentation and telecommunication products, with the help of our professional and technical staff," Al Amri recalls. "We only represent foreign manufacturers of a high calibre and quality products approved by Saudi Aramco and Saudi Consolidated Electric Company (Sceco)."

The move into marble manufacture was a strategic one aimed at widening its services to both the public and private sector, says Al Amri. "Tiffany Marble and Granite Factory, has been operating in full swing since 2001, producing superb quality products of marble and granite."

AZA Trading's main office is located in Al Khobar. The factory in Dammam is one of 800 Tiffany branches around the world. It is fully equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, tools communication and transport facilities and run by a qualified and highly-educated staff of 50.

"Our products are used on a variety of interior and architectural applications," says Al Amri. "Granite slab can be transformed into dresser tables, stair steps, case plant boxes, window sills, trim moulds and mirror frames, vanities, wash basins and kitchen tops. Our products conform to international standards pertaining to quality and durability. Most of the products we manufacture are necessities for every home, apartment or commercial building, which enhance the aesthetics of their application."

Looking ahead, Al Amri says that the Saudi market for building materials and plumbing products is promising due to the stability in oil prices this year. "We are always on the look out to acquire new agencies in the Gulf, to expand our scope of operations and production capacity and to develop new products," he adds.