FRANCE will be returning in force to The Big 5 with nearly 40 French companies having confirmed their participation at its pavilion, organised by UbiFrance, the French Agency for International Business Development.

“Year after year, this event is the place to be to meet the best contacts in the industry. Its success continues unabated with a 21.4 per cent increase in the attendance figures at the last edition,” says a spokesman for the agency.

“Whilst much of the show’s success is owed to the quality of the event, there is another critical element: the Middle East’s importance for building and construction companies. Saudi Arabia’s investment in new construction – estimated at €130 billion ($176 billion) – fuels market interest as does another influential factor: 20 per cent annual growth in the sector in the UAE,” he says.

France, the world’s 10th largest exporter, enjoys a worldwide reputation for reliability and quality. It has been working on enhancing its presence in the region for several years, both in terms of positioning itself on large projects and distributing products on the market that incorporate new technologies.

The spokesman says that UbiFrance, in partnership with the French Confédération Générale des PME de Rhône-Alpes (Rhône-Alpes General Confederation of SMEs), will bring together a wide variety of high-quality products to the show: wooden structures, composite membranes, materials, valves and fittings, carpentry, insulation, building and personal safety, building and hardware.

“It would be hard not to find the right solutions to the most diverse problems with these high-tech and environment-friendly products,” he remarks.

Meanwhile, to heighten its profile amongst local operators, the French building industry is particularly keen to increase its participation in the region’s major business events. It will also be present at Saudi Build, which runs from November 4 to 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

France will have two separate pavilions at The Big 5 and at Middle East Concrete. The French pavilions can be visited at Stands 1B31 to 1G36 in Hall One; and Stands MEC F81 to MEC G86, Sheikh Saeed Halls, at Middle East Concrete.