Strong German attendance at The Big 5

Around 5,300 square metres of space has been taken up by German companies

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German companies have arrived at The Big 5 in force, despite numbers decreasing slightly from last year’s show.

Around 340 companies have attended The Big 5 this year, with around 5,300 square metres of space taken up by the vast number of firms.

“All different types of German construction companies are participating in the event this year,” revealed Heike Schottle, manager of global markets division at the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry.

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“A lot of these companies have exhibited in the past, but each year new companies come to the show in order to reach the Middle East region and other areas which can be contacted through the show such as India,” she added.

Schottle also believed that German companies have looked to markets such as the Middle East in order to diversify their options amid the economic trouble that has hit Germany just as hard as the rest of the globe.

On the success of the show, Schottle believes all will become clear after the event. But she is adamant this is an important place to be. “A company should be here, especially in times of crisis – they can see what is going on and can have important conversations.”

“It is important to communicate in person as well as by the modern ways we are now sued to such as email,” she explained.

"This is a very big show, even with German participation a little bit smaller. It comprises of different sectors within construction and you can find companies which are multi-sector and also specialised firms,” Schottle revealed.

On the state of the Middle Eastern market Olaf Stecken, of the Valves Manufacturing Association of Germany, commented: “It is a big market here, but the growth has been decreasing. There are still a lot of projects here however.”

He added that German firms which come over to the Middle East offer high quality products which gives clients a huge advantage. He also said that these companies help develop the Middle East construction sector.

On the subject of the decreasing number of German participators, Stecken believes the decline can be fully attributed to the economic crisis.