As 2016 drew to a close, the four-day 28th Jeddah International Trade Fair proved to be a success. Following a series of successes throughout the years, this year the Trade Fair is being organized, as the Saudi Arabian market remains attractive for a multitude of large and medium industry sectors. In line with Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision seeking to identify all general directions, policies, goals and objectives of the kingdom and who's aim is to grant the country a leading position in all fields, this will ultimately enhance the level and quality of services provided to business community to achieve a prosperous future and a sustainable development. With its unique multi-sectoral trade categories, ranging from clothing, fashion wear, textiles, leather goods, home décor accessories, appliances and many more, this 28th edition of the Jeddah International Trade Fair, brought along national country groups and individual companies form Bangladesh, China, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia and India. Dozens of national, regional, and global exhibitors gathered to the show to showcase their products and services to thousands of traders and business people with an appetite exploring new products and new markets alike, whether right here in the Red Sea city of Jeddah or halfway across the globe. The fair was held at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events between the 20th and the 23rd of December. "We believe that Saudi Arabia and China are friendly nations that fit together perfectly in business and economy," said Frank Li, Chief Executive Officer of Shanghai Kanchen Exhibition Co., Ltd, the China office of Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions. "This is why China arranged for more than 160 exhibitors to be at this fair. That's how strongly we believe in this event, which we also believe is leaping forward. Some Chinese exhibitors have already received orders for their products as we speak." He added that despite the global recession, Saudi Arabia's economy continues to demonstrate just how robust it remains. "We're sure that more and more Chinese companies will flock to Saudi Arabia to take advantage of the great economic possibilities that are available to them here," said Li, who never missed the expo for the past 10 years. Bilge Donmez is very optimistic about Jeddah's annual trade expo and its future, given the fact that 21 Turkish companies participated in the fair, with most of them representing the country's world-renowned textile and ready-to-wear fashion industries. "Some of [Turkey's] most famous brands participated in the fair, taking up the second largest floor space after China," he remarked. "They all are looking for ways to enter the Saudi market, and this fair is the ideal gateway for them to increase their market share here. The global economic slowdown notwithstanding, Saudi Arabia remains a huge market with almost endless potential, and the expo is their way to find new business partners and expand their business with their existing ones." Zahoor Siddiqui, Vice President for Exhibitions at Alharthi Exhibitions, couldn't be happier with what the expo had achieved. He said that 275 exhibitors in various commercial disciplines from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey, came to display their products and services at the show, with full support from their respective countries' trade ministries. Their products ranged from textiles, fashion accessories, and leather products to interior decoration and home appliances, and everything in between. "We take pride in the great support and care that this pioneering trade even enjoyed, especially from his excellency the Secretary General of the Jeddah Chamber of Trade and Industry, Mr. Hassan Ibrahim Dahlan," he said. "More than 6,300 visitors came to the fair, which generated revenues totaling SAR10 million." Siddiqui pointed out that this year's annual event benefited from 20 percent more floor space than last year's fair, covering an area of 3,500 square meters, thanks to its growing status as a platform for business people and traders to explore the promising opportunities in the Saudi market, especially now that economic reforms are in full swing towards the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the National Transformation 2020. For 28 years, the Jeddah International Trade Fair has been a catalyst of regional and international partnerships, and a platform for manufacturers and producers to showcase their products and services to Saudi traders and business people.
