Exhibitors are continuing to sign up for a major construction and interiors exhibition in Bahrain, with less than a week to go for the show.

The number of exhibitors at gulfBID 2009 - which runs from May 5 to 7 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, has now crossed the 190 mark and is expected to match or even surpass last year's tally of 200, according to organisers.

gulfBID 2009 is held under the patronage of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

It is organised by Al Hilal Group of Bahrain and dmg world media Dubai and is billed as the most comprehensive and effective sourcing opportunity for the construction and interiors industry in the Northern Gulf.

'I'm delighted to report that the number of exhibitors has grown significantly, from 140 a few months ago to close to 200,' said Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

'This would seem to reflect the building and construction industry's optimism that the worst is over and there is light at the end of the tunnel.'

Despite the worldwide gloom, statistics show that there is still ample scope for business across the Gulf, where projects worth an estimated $2.1 trillion are in various stages of planning and execution.

In a January report, Meed Projects put the value of planned capital projects across the GCC at more than $2.1 trillion over the next six years, of which $870 billion is earmarked purely for government projects.

Now in its fourth year and firmly imprinted on the Northern Gulf exhibition calendar, gulfBID brings the leading suppliers, brands, equipment and services face to face with clients and buyers in the construction and interiors industry.

Strategically placed to serve Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, gulfBID provides the perfect setting for exhibitors to continue to do business in markets where there is still high demand.

In essence, gulfBID is seen as a vital platform for companies to boost sales, giving a high level of visibility for regional players while providing fresh opportunities for international companies present at the show.

The 190 exhibitors at this year's event come from 26 countries, with national pavilions representing Germany, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and China, amongst others.

A comprehensive range of quality products and machinery for the construction and interiors industry will be on display.

These include cement and concrete plant, sealants and adhesives, steel, rebar, scaffolding and formwork, glass and aluminium, paints, coatings and finishes, pipe and piping systems, ceramics and sanitary ware, insulation, ceiling and flooring products, partitions, tiling, furniture and furnishings, doors and windows and ironmongery, lighting, cladding and aluminium facades, plumbing, HVAC and M&E solutions, safety and security systems and services, plant and heavy machinery, and water technology.

A number of interior dŽcor specialists will also promote their products and services that are targeted at the discerning and style-conscious market of the region.

Deals worth millions and a rise in the number of high-quality visitors were the highlights of gulfBID 2008, which attracted leading manufacturers, designers and major specifiers from the region and beyond.

Nearly 5,000 visitors attended last year's event, with a large percentage of these coming from Saudi Arabia, the region's financial powerhouse.

It featured national pavilions from Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, the UK and Spain and exhibitors from as far away as New Zealand, who promoted their latest products over 4,280 sq/m of booked exhibition space.

Last year's event also widened its portfolio to include the full spectrum of quality interiors and furniture, including contract furniture for hotels, offices and new fac