Release
Essential power generation and water infrastructure projects are at the forefront of the economic growth plans of governments across the Middle East and North Africa region, with multi-billion dollar budget commitments firmly in place to support their rapid development.
"Faced with the ever-growing challenge to supply increasing amounts of electricity and water for the industrial and domestic sectors, the region’s governments have made these projects a clear number one priority, creating huge demand for both traditional and innovative products and services that will help them meet their objectives" said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director – Exhibitions, IRR Middle East, organisers of the Middle East Electricity Exhibition, which opens on February 9th at Dubai International Exhibition Center.
A prime example of this commitment is the UAE’s nuclear energy contract award, the first part of which, a $20 billion construction, commissioning and fuel loads contract was awarded at the end of December 2009 to a consortium headed by the South Korean state-owned utility firm, KEPCO – the largest foreign order ever placed in the country’s history. Other major international players such as Samsung, Hyundai, Doosan Heavy Industries and US firm Westinghouse will also play key roles in the project, which will see four nuclear reactors, over their 60-year lifespan, providing an essential part of the country’s energy requirements through to the end of this century.
"The pressing need to increase power and water generation capability means that regional budgets for projects in these areas have maintained their recession-proof status throughout the economic downturn, and as the region slowly moves into a period of renewed growth, the energy and water industry may well be the catalyst that will help kick start regional economic recovery," said Woodbridge.
The fact that the 35th edition of Middle East Electricity Exhibition will cover more space than ever at Dubai’s International Exhibition Centre supports this view. A comprehensive showcase of products and services from every aspect of the energy industry, Middle East Electricity, which has earned its position as the world’s leading event of its kind, will this year feature almost 1,000 exhibitors from 54 countries.
Germany, traditionally one of the world’s leading countries in the energy industry, is bringing invaluable expertise to the region as the official featured country at this year’s exhibition, while China, whose country pavilion is the largest at the event, will stage a special matchmaking event aimed at helping industry professionals meet potential suppliers from the 112 Chinese exhibitors (over 85% of whom are from the Power Generation industry with the remainder from the Lighting and New & Renewable Energy sectors) who will be showcasing their products, services and supplies.
"Between them, the exhibitors at Middle East Electricity 2010 can deliver effective solutions to all of the region’s power and water needs, be they product, service or expertise-based," added Woodbridge. "A series of free to attend seminars, presented by some of the world’s leading energy and water companies, will be held alongside the exhibition – these will feature the latest developments in the industry." Free to enter for industry professionals, Middle East Electricity 2010, which also features the region’s only showcase of lighting-related products for the industrial, residential and commercial sectors, runs from Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th February at Dubai International Exhibition Center.
For further information, please contact:
Neil Tyrer,
Coalface Marketing Communications
Office #502, 5th Floor
CNN Building, Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
t: +971 4 3672886,
f: +971 4 3661076,
m: +971 50 6532854,
e: neil@coalfaceme.com
w: www.middleeastelectricity.com
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