Leading French companies will be out in force at this year's Big 5, the largest construction event in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, which opens next month in Dubai, UAE.

To enable French companies to seize new opportunities or reinforce their existing presence, Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, will once again be running three French pavilions at The Big 5, dedicated to special construction (at Sheikh Saeed), construction tools/building materials (Zabeel 1-3) and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing)/building interiors in hall 1-4.

A total of 26 French companies from the industry's various sectors will be presenting their products, services and expertise to local businesses.

The French construction/finishing industry has undeniable strengths in sectors where technical sophistication, innovation, quality and design play an essential role, said a statement from Business France.

With its highly-fragmented business ecosystem of 409,500 companies, generating total turnover of €126 billion ($148.4  billion), France has the capacity to play an important role in the industry across the world, especially given that it is home to one or more of the global leaders in every segment, including Vinci, Bouygues, Saint Gobain, Lafarge and Schneider Electric, to name just a few.

France boasts a highly diverse offering when it comes to the building trades - from structural engineering and finishing works (carpentry, roofing, insulation, sanitation, air-conditioning, smoke detectors), to interior fittings (wall and floor coverings, luxury tapware, home automation) – supplied by companies of all sizes.

According to the French Construction Federation, these firms make €8.6 billion in foreign markets (€5.9 billion from structural construction and €2.7 billion from finishing works).

France tends to export products that are technologically advanced or which place an emphasis on quality and design (innovative insulating materials, facades that allow light to pass through, false ceilings, terracotta tiles, natural paints, decorative fireplaces, etc).

Projiso, an expert in manufacturing and marketing spray systems will take part in the show. It offers a large range of products with multiple high-performances properties including thermal, fireproofing and acoustic. These are:

*Fibrexpan  - fire resistance, thermal insulation, acoustic correction and reduction.
*Fibrofeu    - fire resistance, acoustic correction.
*Fibrogaine - fire resistance.
*Firespray    - fire resistance.

All of these applications are covered by EU regulations. Their products carry the CE marking, the thermal lambda is justified by an Acermi with a technical agreement, said the statement from Business France.

Research, development and innovation form a crucial part of Projiso’s strategy. The company is constantly seeking to improve its products, offer new systems and enhance its range of solutions, it added.

Veda France, a key designer, manufacturer and seller of a comprehensive range of firestop systems and joints for the construction industry, will be once again at the Big5 to boost its presence in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and beyond.

Veda France's novel products include expansion joints, control joints, joint covers, firestop systems and stair nosings.

Its solutions are suitable for all types of buildings (shopping malls, hospitals, schools, industrial buildings, airports, etc.) for both standard and seismic joints, said a company spokesman.

"As a specialist manufacturer of building joints, our savoir-faire is widely recognized by all the professionals: architects, engineering firms, general contractors and sub-contractors," he stated.

"The presence of Veda France has grown considerably in the Middle East, thanks to the certification of their products and systems by the local authorities (UAE Civil Defence, Qatar Civil Defence, Kuwait Fire Department) and their participation in the 2016 Big 5 Dubai exhibition," he added.-TradeArabia News Service