DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia’s industrial hub, will host the 2014 edition of the GCC’s largest heavy equipment exhibition from February 16 to 20, 2014.
The Construction Machinery Show will provide an invaluable platform for customers in the region bringing together manufacturers, distributors and buyers, organisers CPI Media Group said.
Raz Islam, its publishing director, said the show is teaming up with leading Saudi exhibition organiser Dhahran International Exhibitions Centre (DIEC) and will run in conjunction with Buildex, the 16th Saudi International Building & Construction Exhibition. Both events will attract worldwide industry experts, investors and buyers to the largest trade show in the Eastern Province.”
He pointed out that the 2014 event will feature a new section dedicated to live demonstrations of heavy equipment and construction machinery.
“The 2014 show will host over 10,000 sq m of live demonstrations of the various construction and heavy equipment on display. This section will enable our trade visitors, buyers, suppliers and dealers to examine capabilities of the equipment on display and learn more information about their use, abilities and the way these machines can contribute to the success of their business operation,” Raz said.
“Dammam is considered the industrial hub of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a major entry point into the booming market. It is also the centre of the oil and gas industry with nearby Al Ghawar, which is home to the world’s largest conventional oil field. Much of this wealth is being reinvested into infrastructure and construction, making it the ideal location for 2014,” Raz pointed out.
The total value of ongoing projects in the GCC region currently stands at $2,620 billion, with Saudi Arabia accounting for $875 billion. The kingdom’s strong construction market is being driven by government spending and high oil prices, according to a recent Global Investment House report. For 2013, the kingdom budgeted $219 billion for spending, up by 18.8 per cent, year-on-year, from 2012. Out of this, almost $76 billion has been set aside for capital expenditure on investment projects, the report added.
“The kingdom remains focused on investing in road, railway, power and housing projects. Moreover, the introduction of a new mortgage law is expected to contribute to the growth of the residential sector in the coming quarters,” said Faisal Hasan, CFA and researcher for the report.
The show will see the participation of specialised companies in the field of construction and machinery including cranes, mobile cranes, tower cranes, graders, loaders, compressors, crushers, fork lifts, skid steers, piling rigs, excavators, access platforms, bulldozers, concrete pumps, cement mixers, grabs, trucks, material handling equipment, front shovels, rollers, and communication and navigation systems.
