Buoyed by the growth of the construction sector in the region, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions (SME) will organise the Dubai Woodshow 2006 – the region’s first-of-its-kind, exclusive exhibition for the wood industry – at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from April 10 to 12.

“Dubai’s wood industry has grown at an exponential pace, with imports in 2004 going up by 32 per cent as compared to the preceding year. While 49 per cent of total wood imports were re-exported in 2003, only 38 per cent of the imports were re-exported in 2004, indicating that much of the imported wood was consumed locally. Dubai’s strategic location and excellent connectivity coupled with its world-class logistics capabilities have made the city a major re-exporter of wood and wood-related products, serving the requirements of countries in the Arab world and beyond,” says SME managing director Dawood Al Shezawi.
He adds: “As an international trade fair focusing on the wood and wood machinery markets of the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, Dubai Woodshow 2006 will provide exhibitors a platform to showcase top-quality wood products and wood machinery, while allowing them to establish profitable business linkages.
“For an exhibition making its debut, Dubai Woodshow 2006 has generated exceptional response from top companies in the wood industry. This strong international participation signifies the vast potential of the Middle East wood market and at the same time, underlines the pressing need for a credible, wide-ranging platform that brings together diverse industry players under one roof,” Al Shezawi says.
The Dubai Woodshow 2006 will bring together manufacturers, traders, suppliers and distributors of a range of products and wood processing and woodworking machinery from over 40 countries including Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, India, China, France, Lebanon, UK, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Singapore, Pakistan, Korea, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Iran, Canada, Taiwan and the US.
Timber merchants, interior designers, furniture manufacturers, carpenters, architects, engineers, wholesale dealers, retailers, building material manufacturers and construction suppliers are also expected to attend the show.
The products and innovations to be displayed at the exhibition include medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, hardwood, softwood, veneers, timbers, parquet, laminates, finished wood merchandise and paper products. The exhibition will also feature moulding machines, woodworking machinery and tools, accessories, components and auxiliary equipment for the global wood and woodworking industry.
The exhibition will also feature some of the bigger names in the industry that include: Holz-her Reich Spezialmaschinen from Germany, Airpress Company from UK and India’s Pidilite Industries.
Among the other international exhibitors are Ceratizit Luxembourg Sari, Serra and Jowat from Germany, Timber Web from UK, American Hardwood Export Council from US, Timber from South Africa, Golden Star Wood Jaya from Malaysia, Uniply Industries from India and Jiashan New Fuhua Timber Industry from China.
The Dubai Woodshow 2006 will also see participation from leading GCC-based companies such as Danube Building Materials, Simco, Mona Trading, Al Humoudi and Italdeco.
Dubai Woodshow 2006 is supported by international associations and chambers, industry councils and trade promotion councils including the Czech Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association (SVDSZ), the Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry (FIPPI) and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).