Business & Finance Club - Riyadh :Leading constructions groups will be at 'Saudi Build 2010,' exhibition being held in Riyadh to capitalise on the SR562.5 billion ($150 billion) private sector investments in the kingdom's real estate projects.

The leading construction technology and building materials exhibition, Saudi Build will run from October 18 to 21 at the Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

It has already attracted over 900 exhibitors from 35 countries, representing a 30 per cent increase in participation from the previous year, said Riyadh Exhibitions Company, the event organiser.

Saudi Build 2010 has established itself as a construction reference and the only show that meets the professional expectations of the industry as a whole. The trade event now accounts for more than 400 high-level pre-scheduled meetings, the organisers added.

The expo will be held concurrently with Saudi Stone-Tech – The 13th International Stone and Stone Technology Show, which will showcase products ranging from marble slabs to mosaics and display computerized stone cutting, quarrying and polishing machinery and equipment.

"Construction market activity in the GCC is now increasingly being focused on Saudi Arabia in view of relatively slow performance in other markets. Major development projects continue to emerge all over the country as the Saudi construction sector expects to sustain a healthy growth rate of up to 7 per cent annually," said Mohammad Al Hussaini, deputy general manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

The government real estate expenditure is set to hit a whopping SR1.5 trillion in the next five years, he stated

"Capitalising on Saudi Arabia's excellent growth potential, we have witnessed several new companies that have confirmed attendance at Saudi Build and Saudi Stone-Tech, including national pavilions from Belgium and Taiwan and individual participations from Serbia, Sweden and Yemen."

"Consequently, we have also made arrangements to expand the exhibition space by around 50 per cent to accommodate the increased participation," Al Hussaini added.

Saudi Build 2010 is supported by more than 20 international trade authorities and associations and will also receive 16 country pavilions. Exhibition space has been expanded to reach 27,000 square metres in anticipation of the large number of participants.

Saudi Build will include for the first time in Saudi Arabia a B2B matchmaking exercise during the exhibition, allowing companies to network with more than 50 industry peers from Europe and Australia.

The matchmaking sessions will introduce local companies to the latest construction-related products and technology and will facilitate the signing of contracts with the international companies participating in the event. 

A major part of Saudi Build is The PMV Series 2010, the international exhibition for Construction Equipment, Plant, Machinery and Vehicles. PMV will cover a combined indoor and outdoor area of more than 5,000 square metres displaying the latest construction heavy machinery and equipment.

As the Middle East's largest construction and building material exhibition, Saudi Build will cover the full range of industry topics related to construction and equipment management, air-conditioning, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, concrete and steel technologies, and “green” construction technologies and techniques.