A major international building and construction show is set to be staged in Jeddah this month.

Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition (SBIE) - to be held at the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Centre from May 25 to 29 - will feature a wide spectrum of products for the construction industry, ranging from light tools to heavy machinery. It will also present innovative and cost-saving ideas for the industry.

The five-day event is organised by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions, which this year marks 25 years of successful international event organising.

The 12th in the series of exhibitions aimed at providing a comprehensive showcase for the construction sector, SBIE - which was earlier a biennial show - has been made an annual event in a bid to cater effectively to the expanding industry.

The scope of the exhibition has been widened to cover the parallel sector of interior design, according to a spokesman for the organiser.

"To satisfy the needs of this dynamic industry, showcasing interiors alongside building has proven to be extremely worthwhile," he says. "This fruitful combination provides the ideal medium to attract not only engineers, architects, consultants, specifiers and designers but a wider professional audience including hotel managers, school/hospital administrators, company/bank directors, as well as manufacturers and businessmen at large."

SBIE will this year have a strong international, presence with industry giants from the UK, France, Turkey, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Iran, Cyprus, Sweden, and Gulf and Arab countries. The exhibition will have a large contingent of Saudi companies representing all aspects of the building industry, he adds.

Last year, more than 20 countries were represented in national pavilions or by individual companies. Of these, Thailand alone was represented by more than 18 companies.

The event will be held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and is supported by Ministry of Industry and Electricity, Jeddah Mayoralty and King Abdul Aziz University's Faculty of Architecture.

The Saudi Umran Society will conduct a high-profile symposium parallel to the show and provide free consultation for building and construction.

SBIE is the best opportunity for people in the trade, investors and those looking at exploring the potential offered by the Saudi construction market, says the spokesman.

"In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, billions of dollars that would have been invested abroad by Saudis is now being invested in the Kingdom," he points out.

According to industry experts, the buoyancy in the Saudi construction sector is set to remain for at least another decade due to strong oil prices and ongoing reforms in the country, he says. "Major government projects such as electricity expansion projects worth $100 billion, development projects including schools and hospitals, private construction and the rapidly expanding tourism sectors are driving this buoyant industry to an all-time high," the spokesman continues. "A huge increase in oil revenues in 2002 prompted banks to expand credits to builders and contractors. This amounted to more than $5 billion in the first nine months of 2002 and is expected to rise further.

"An estimated $240 billion was invested in the Saudi real estate sector in 2001. Saudi Arabia's decision to allow foreign investors to own real estate will further boost this thriving sector.

"The Kingdom is upgrading its education system and hence a big part of its budget is allocated to this sector. In April 2001, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia) awarded a $3.46 billion contract for the construction of 3,000 schools on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis to the American International Group (AIG). Last year, the group was also granted a licence to finance the construction of 200 government school buildings at a cost of SR1.3 billion. The Kingdom has also allocated $154.66 million for new technical colleges."

According to the Kingdom's largest bank - National Commercial Bank - construction activity will also expand because of the ongoing long-term electrification plan.

"The power plan calls for an installation of some 50,500 MW of additional generating capacity that would require an investment of $117 billion in the next 20 years. This implies that the government has to make an annual allocation of requisite funds amounting to around $4.67 billion, while the construction component related to power sector alone is believed to be around $693 million," he adds.

SBIE provides an ideal platform for companies looking to participate in the Kingdom's construction activities, he says.