Leading US and European companies will be at the upcoming Memex manufacturing exhibition in Abu Dhabi for a share of the reported $13.7 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) secured last year, said the event organisers.

Most of the FDI amount has been earmarked to expand the UAE’s manufacturing base, said a statement from IIR Middle East.

Memex will run from November 28 to 30 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre with focus on technology, machinery, tools, and solutions for the industrial and associated industries. Over 120 exhibiting companies, representing 400 brands from 16 countries, are expected.

The expo has even attracted top brands from the US, UK, Germany, Italy and Holland, the organisers said.

Over 3,000 decision makers from more than 25 countries have already registered to attend, primarily from across the Middle East and North Africa, said Binu Pillai, exhibition director of Memex 2010.

Major suppliers of hand tools and cutting edge manufacturing technology from the US and Europe will showcase their key products at three-day event.

Italian machine tool manufacturers involved in metal cutting, metal forming, heat treatment and surface finishing technology, dominate a pavilion organised by UAE-based Dynamic Automation.

Apart from the oil and gas sector, much of the demand for this technology comes from the aircraft, ship building and maintenance, aluminium and steel and construction sectors.

“The UAE is now an important emerging market for manufacturing technology. Many of our participants have already invested in facilities here to support their growing customer portfolios. The UAE is well on its way to becoming a first class centre for manufacturing,” said Mansoor Ahmad, CEO of Dynamic Automation.

According to an FDI report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, over the last seven years, the GCC region has collectively secured over $137 billion, funding 349 manufacturing projects and creating 126,000 jobs.

“The UAE attracted 155 of those projects valued at $17.3 billion, creating over 38,000 jobs,” said Pillai.

Another group of prominent overseas machine tool suppliers from the UK, US, France and Holland has been assembled by MTI a publication which facilitates international machine tool transactions.

“The MTI Roadshow has already been a successful component at shows in emerging markets such as India, Russia and the Far East. The Middle East is an important region as it looks to dilute its dependency on oil. Memex has already proven itself as an effective platform to reach regional manufacturers,” commented MTI, CEO, Bob Sadat.

'New this year at Memex is a dedicated Woodworker Zone for the latest in woodworking machinery and tools. Once again companies from Italy are making their presence felt showcasing the latest in woodworking technology,' said Pillai.

“As the cost of labour has risen around the world it has forced companies towards mechanising production processes and regional woodworking companies have realised that automation is essential to remain competitive,” he explained.-TradeArabia News Service