The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions, or Mice industry has a lot to gain from the growing trade with the UAE and Italy.
Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, spoke after his visit to Italy to attend the Executive Committee Meeting of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, or UFI, in Milan on September 10 and 11 about the business relationship and growing trade and the mutual benefits of it.
"The UFI meeting drew the who's who of the exhibition industry from across the world, and contributed towards framing the general policy positions of the association. The event also provided a great networking opportunity, where the UAE and region generated great interest among participants," he said. With the UAE accounting for nearly half of $1 trillion construction projects under way in the GCC, the MICE industry in the country is on an overdrive, attracting attention from across the world.
Recently, the UAE also emerged as one of the most popular destinations for MICE in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, riding on its central geographic location, significant trade activity, a stable political system and advanced meeting facilities, among others.
He also highlighted the opportunities in Sharjah in the wake of new big-ticket projects such as Dh20 billion Sharjah Waterfront City and Dh2.4 billion the Tilal City which will see the Emirate undergoing a dramatic transformation and opening up limitless opportunities for investors and businesses. "The new mega projects announced in Sharjah are set to bring more business and investor attention on the Emirate, thereby facilitating more business and economic activities. Expo Centre is set to play a key role in bringing about this transformation," he added.
Midfa also visited the UAE Pavilion at Expo Milano. The pavilion, will is one of the biggest after Germany and China, provides visitors from around the world an inspirational encounter with the UAE's transformation into a thriving, world-class economy that attracts people from across the globe.
During his visit to the pavilion, he met Noura Mohammed Juma, UAE Consul-General in Milan, and Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, director-general of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, or SCTDA.
"For Expo Centre Sharjah, Italy has been a reliable trade partner since long with almost all our shows having considerable Italian presence and support of several Italian associations and industry bodies. I am sure the UAE Pavilion will help in bringing more business and leisure travellers to the UAE and Sharjah," he added.
The UAE-Italy bilateral trade stood at Dh25.7 billion in 2014, representing more than half of its trade with GCC countries, which totaled to Dh49.8 billion in 2014 and is likely to see double-digit growth on back of rising demand for jewellery and industrial machinery, apart from agri-foods.