COMMENTS / Business

Big 5 promises to be the biggest and best of shows

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Next month marks an important event in the region’s construction industry as the Big 5 exhibition comes roaring back to Dubai bigger and better than ever.

What makes this year’s exhibition hotly anticipated is the current global economic crisis and what it means for the Middle East.

Will the air hang heavy with gloom and doom over the industry’s future? Will the construction and development poo-bahs wring their hands over the lack of investors in their projects? Will we discover that every single crane manufactured the world over is now in the UAE and the rate of construction will be forced to level off?

Methinks the answer is no.

There is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a meltdown. Nearly 3000 exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate their expertise and the willingness to share that expertise with industry leaders.

The sectors of building and construction, water technology and environment, air conditioning and refrigeration, cleaning and maintenance, glass and metal, bathrooms and ceramics and marble and stone are as economically healthy as ever.

Between November 23 to 27 any man or woman who has ever donned a hard hat, pored over a blueprint or got sand in their shoes will be at the Big 5.

It’s not simply to glad-hand competitors and colleagues or enjoy the latest in industry gossip, but to take advantage of what is to be learned of new technology. Because without understanding the latest state-of-the-art building techniques, many contractors and developers will find themselves with lower revenue reports, and their competitors being awarded the bigger contracts.

Take, for example, the Big 5’s promotion of energy-efficient green building by using new technologies. That stuff will be found at the Technical Conference that will be provided, in part, from Ecospecifier International, where the best practices in green building will be exhibited.

Also consider the fact that a large portion of the exhibition will feature case studies and new approaches to worker health and safety.

Alongside the Big 5 is the PMV exhibition dedicated to manufacturers and suppliers of plant, machinery and construction vehicles.

As Bernard Walsh, managing director of DMG World Media Dubai, says, the PMV exhibition will be a “one-stop shop for all construction professionals.”

That’s vital to the success of the exhibition because the Middle East remains the world’s biggest market for plant, construction machinery, vehicles and equipment. Demand for such equipment is expected to grow up to 20% by 2012.

Last year’s PMV attracted more than 240 key manufacturers and suppliers from 24 countries. This year’s exhibitor line-up is expected to break the 300 mark, with exhibition space expected to top 40,000m2 as compared with just under 30,000m2 in year one.

Yes, The Big 5 is expected to launch a healthy 2009 for the industry.

Rob Wagner is the editor of Construction Week.

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