THE 9th Airport Show in Dubai ended on a high note after drawing more than 4,700 attendees from 60 countries over three days, generating more than Dh500 million in preliminary procurement deals. Over 210 exhibitors from 30 countries took part, and there were airport officials from 19 airports from 11 countries, representing nearly Dh25 billion ($6.8 billion) in airport project development.
Reed Exhibitions, who acquired the Airport Show in mid-2008, recorded a 23 per cent increase in the number of hosted buyers from 35 in 2008 to 43 this year.
“The 2009 results exceeded our expectations, and the feedback from exhibitors, international pavilions and industry leaders is positive,” said Ara Fernezian, group exhibition director, Reed Exhibitions.
“The upsurge in business also underlines the unmatched potential of specialist industry exhibitions. In difficult times, this success proves that exhibitions and networking opportunities are the best catalyst and a very useful tool for business generation in any sector.”
Richard Mears, director of business development for Northrop Grumman, the US based global security, aerospace defence company said, “The Airport Show continues to be an excellent opportunity for us because it is the hub of the major airport infrastructure development across the wider region.”
On the buyer end, RC Sinha, additional chief secretary of the government of maharashtra, India’s third largest state, said they had identified 20 Airport Show participating companies as suppliers for the seven airports under its purview.
The Airport Show is supported by leading aviation companies and trade bodies including Dubai Airports, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, German Airport Technology and Equipment, Danish Airport Group, British Aviation Group, British Airport Services and Equipment Association, and UBIFRANCE, the French Agency for International Business Development.