Deutsche Messe, one of the foremost trade exhibition organisers with around 100 events worldwide, sponsored the ‘Innovator of the Year’ category of the recently held LOG.LEO awards.

The awards recognised the best logistics companies in the region. Deutsche Messe’s decision to extend its support to this logistics award perfectly complements its broader plan for the logistics industry in the Middle East having recently launched the region’s only integrated show for materials handling and logistics called CeMAT Middle East 2010, said a company spokesman.

The LOG.LEO awards – which were announced on November 30, 2008, at Dubai’s Westin Hotel – was hosted by LOG.Middle East, the region’s premier publication for the logistics and supply chain industry in celebration of its first anniversary.

The LEOs, which stand for Logistics, Excellence and Optimisation, are regarded as the global benchmark for logistics companies operating in the region.

During the award ceremony, Angela Schaschen, Managing Director for Deutsche Messe Dubai Branch, presented the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award to the winner: sales and marketing director, CEVA Logistics, Wade Thompson.

“We see this as an excellent opportunity to extend our support to the Middle East’s logistics industry, which is growing at a remarkable rate thanks to the region’s impressive business and investment potential,” said Schaschen.

Besides the Innovator of the Year, other award categories included Young Achiever of the Year, Supply Chain Manager of the Year, Social Conscience of the Year and Lifetime Achievement of the Year.

CeMAT Middle East 2010, which is the new event under Deutsche Messe’s portfolio, will be the only specialised international trade fair in the region for materials handling and intralogistics.

The Show will be held at the Dubai Airport Expo Centre from January 19 to 21, 2010. CeMAT Middle East is a spin-off of CeMAT Hannover, the world’s largest and most renowned intralogistics trade fair hosted by Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany with annual editions also in Shanghai, Istanbul and Bangalore. – TradeArabia News Service