The 27th Jeddah International Trade Fair 2015 (JITF) recorded a 35 per cent growth compared to 2014 with over 200 world-renowned exhibitors from eight countries participating in the four-day exhibition at the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events.

Participants showcased a wide array of unique, exclusive and traditional products, ranging from clothing, textile, accessories to home décor and appliances, giftware and more.

“This year’s Jeddah International Trade Fair was a successful event, and a pleasurable experience to both visitors and exhibitors. Every year, we try our best to come up with a new and enhanced edition of the fair to please all types of visitors,” said Zahoor Siddique, vice president of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE).

“As organisers we always try to make sure that we listen to both the visitors’ and exhibitors’ needs and feedback, and implement them because, we believe that this is what will help to upgrade the event,” he said.

Apart from the visitors from Jeddah, the business-to-business (B2B) component in the fair got good response from business people.

Budi Hansyah, director of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, said the expo gave their participating companies a chance to explore the investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

He said “We are very happy with the overall outcome of the exhibition. The exhibition was a great opportunity to showcase our products in a professionally-managed exhibition. Visitors of the JITF 2015 have appreciated our products and prices, so we are definitely coming back next year,” Hansyah said.

Trade delegates from China said the fair provided them a perfect platform to promote and expand their business in Saudi Arabia as many of them found local partners to promote their products and services in Jeddah.

In a bid to promote Indian handicrafts, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) participated and had a great response from Saudi visitors, according to A.K. Sakhuja, deputy director.

He said “To increase the export and to surpass the target, we need to focus on new and emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia.”

Buyers and traders appeared pleased with the Indian products showcased at the Fair, and some buyers said the products were competitively priced and modern in design.

Trailing behind the success of this year’s fair, the 2016 edition of Jeddah International Trade Fair is scheduled for December 20 to 23, 2016. – TradeArabia News Service