The fast-paced construction activity in Oman has driven the demand for hardwood, generating a strong interest from Omani visitors to an upcoming leading timber and wood machinery show to take pace in Dubai next week.

The 10th edition of the Dubai WoodShow 2015 will run from April 14 to 16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Over the past few years, the construction industry almost doubled the contracts awarded in the Sultanate - from an estimated $ 6.9 billion in 2013 to $ 12.6 billion last year.

The buoyant construction sector in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region will be one of the factors raising the importance of Dubai WoodShow 2015, a one-stop shop for interaction between traders, investors and exporters.

Many related sectors, namely the hardwood sector, are witnessing higher demand, encouraging more foreign importers to explore opportunities in the Sultanate’s promising sector.

Josine Heijmans, exhibition director of the show, said: “The National Vision 2020 in Oman aims at upgrading infrastructure and projecting Oman as an attractive tourist destination.

“This requires stronger economic performance, boosted by higher tourist arrivals and increased foreign direct investment, thereby benefiting all the sectors of the economy and primarily its construction sector, which in turn will fuel the wood industry.”

“A decade ago, Oman’s imports of forest products touched $74.1 million, but today the Sultanate imports a lot more than that. We anticipate this scenario to generate a higher turnout from Oman over three days,” added Heijmans.

The event is also a showplace for the latest innovations and technologies and has become the platform of progress across the wood and woodworking sector for the region. - TradeArabia News Service