The Italians made their connection this region many decades ago, first capturing the furniture market and then moving on to other varied products.

Over the years, they have cemented link with the Gulf with trade with the region surging every year.
As with their trade links, so it is with the Big 5 – into which arena they have returned in a big way. There are more companies, offering more products and even more determined than ever to penetrate the booming Gulf construction market.
Since the inception of the show, Italian companies have been major participants. Last year saw 250 Italian firms and this year the Italian pavilion has around 300 companies offering their latest products and services in building and construction machineries, cleaning and maintenance products and equipment, water and environmental technologies, ceramics, glass and metal products, as well as project management and consultancy.
Among the others, the regional government of Sicily, many consortia, chambers of commerce and associations are taking part in the show, which, by all accounts, is bigger than ever before.
Claudio Scajola, Italy’s Minister for Productive Activities (Foreign Trade and Industry) described last year’s Big 5 exhibition as ‘the perfect platform to introduce and display our products to the Middle East region.’ This year, Italian Minister of Foreign Trade, Emma Bonino, will visit the show, such is the importance attached to the Big 5.
A live demonstration of Italian technology applied to building materials is being shown at the stand organised by the Italian Trade Commission, Trade Promotion Section (ITC-TPS) of the Italian Embassy in Dubai. It also provides participating Italian companies with vital information on how to penetrate the local and regional market.
“Italian companies are focusing on the UAE not only as a commercial hub, but to explore new dimension of business and investment opportunities,” says Italian Trade Commissioner Dr Ferdinand Fiore.
Italian exports to the UAE last year amounted to 2.5 billion euro ($3.15 billion), increasing 20.6 per cent compared to 2004. For the first half of this year, Italian exports to the UAE reached 1.5 billion euro, a 35.7 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
He points out that there are more than 80 Italian companies operating in the UAE, in various fields: oil and gas technology and exploitation; civil engineering, consulting and contracting; energy engineering; banking; airline and shipping lines; trading (marble, furniture, heavy and construction equipment and vehicles, foodstuff); steel production; and refrigeration, among others.
The ITC-TPS of the Italian Embassy, has also organised a stand at an institutional level, as well as a catalogues stand. The institutional information stand, called “Italian Covering and Building Materials”, provides participating Italian companies with vital information on how to penetrate the local and regional market. The catalogues stand has been organised in cooperation with Gimav, the Italian Association for Glass Processing Machinery and Accessory Suppliers.
The Dubai-based ITC-TPS – covering the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Yemen – helps promote bilateral trade, gives assistance and consultancy to both Italian and local companies and organises promotional initiatives such as trade delegations to Italy and to the GCC, symposia, workshops, official participations at exhibitions and market surveys.
The Investment Desk at the Italian Trade Commission also works hard at promoting the business and investment environment, constantly encouraging investment inflows and seeking strategic partnership and suitable alliances.
Also represented at the Italian Pavilion is the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), which has helped organize the Italian participation and will have its own stand at the pavilion.
“The ICE, established in 1926, is the governmental agency whose task is to promote and develop trade and industrial co-operation between Italy and the rest of the world, thereby encouraging the globalisation of Italian companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and their taking root in foreign markets,” he adds.
Headquartered in Rome, ICE maintains a constant exchange of information with its network of 16 regional offices in Italy and more than 100 offices worldwide.
“Through participation in international exhibitions, trade missions, workshops and other initiatives in its annual promotional programme and agreements with Italian regional governments and sector associations, ICE intensifies business opportunities and reinforces the image of “Made in Italy” brand all around the world,” says Dr Fiore.