Participants at the second Middle East Manufacturing Exhibition (Memex), which concluded recently at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, remain confident of steady sales growth throughout the region's manufacturing sector in spite of the global downturn, according to the event organisers.

"Memex clearly demonstrated that the UAE and the Arabian Gulf in general remains serious about major investment in its industrial manufacturing base," said exhibition manager for the event organised by IIR Middle East Tim Wilson.

According to official government figures the total cumulative industrial capital value of all non-oil and gas industrial projects in the UAE already exceeds $20 billion, creating 290,000 jobs.

Jaber Hareb Al Khaili, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), who opened the show, also echoed similar sentiment.

“With the demand for finished products, undiminished, it is hardly surprising that the industry is witnessing these levels of investment,” added Wilson.

However Memex was not just about physical manufacturing, public and private sector organisations were equally keen to consult overseas experts according to managing partner at Stuttgart-based Fichtner Bauconsulting Torsten Heck.

“Al Khaili the CEO of ZonesCorp visited our stand. He was impressed with the company’s profile and the key role German consultancies and their technologies play in the development of the UAE manufacturing industry. German companies are now involved in many projects throughout the UAE, it is a real growth area for us,” he said.

Memex is a key platform for regional industrial manufacturers to meet local, regional and international suppliers who showcased leading industry suppliers from 16 different countries displaying over 100 brands.

Main exhibit sectors included machinery and machine tools, welding, joining and heat treatment, automation and robotics, measuring instruments, ERP solutions and manufacturing zones.

Another highlight at Memex was the Industryscape conference, which ran in parallel with the exhibition. This provided a dedicated platform for stakeholders from investment and regulatory bodies to leaders in industry to address the opportunities and challenges regarding the future of the Middle East’s industrial landscape.

Memex will take place at Adnec in Abu Dhabi once again later this year from October  18 to 20, 2009.  – TradeArabia News Service