The exhibitors, organisers and visitors at the three leading trade exhibitions for the construction, interiors and property sectors - gulfBID, gulfInteriors and the Gulf Property Show - organised by the Bahrain-based Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) have hailed it as a huge success.

The three shows drew to a close at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) yesterday, reflecting that Bahrain's real estate sector has bounced back and business is booming again, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The shows together created the biggest combined business to business (b2b) and business to consumer (b2c) showcase ever organised in the kingdom.

"The quality of visitors was better than last year and we had serious ones who were genuinely interested in our product," BlueZone Interiors managing director Mohammed Al Nashaba said.

"They understood the product well, compared rates and then the interested ones came back for detailed discussions," he added.

"The economic activity generated as a result of the events supports the positive forecast for industry development and performance in the region this year," Bahrain-based economist Dr John Phillip said.

"Such events help to unlock business potential by providing the industry with a new sourcing and knowledge platform for projects and contracts," he added.

"The event has been very successful for us. There was good visitor footfall - mainly investors," Bukamal sales and marketing director Majed Bukamal said.

"We have had some serious meetings which will hopefully result in deals in the future," he added.

"There was a good visitor turnout and we had serious meetings with interested prospects from the managerial levels. It was a good branding exercise too," details managing director Wahid Halabi said.

"We will definitely participate next year as well," he added.

The events were supported by Industry and Commerce Ministry, Tamkeen, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority, the German Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manara Developments Company, Bahrain Financial Harbour and Sakaan (Saar Central).

Floor space in all three exhibition halls of the BIECC was sold out well in advance with a total of 7,600 sqm occupied by 187 companies from Bahrain, the region and further afield.

Almost 100 companies representing segments as diverse as construction design, engineering, project management, construction plant and machinery and green buildings demonstrated their capabilities at gulfBID.

Meanwhile, 72 companies representing home-grown and international brands in sectors including furniture, paints, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, ceramics, wall coverings and art and accessories segments took part in gulfInteriors. The inaugural Gulf Property Show was a showcase for Bahrain's various residential and commercial real estate assets and related services.-TradeArabia News Service