Visitors at the event.

The Big 5 Kuwait 2015, the country’s largest international construction exhibition concluded last month (September 14 to 16), registering a record footfall of people from all walks of the construction sector.

Some of the highlights were the Building Interiors Products Zone and an open-air Plant, Machinery and Vehicles Zone where visitors could preview new technologies and services, witness products launches, and participate in live demonstration.

Ashley Roberts, the event director, said: “We are committed to positively contribute towards the development of Kuwait’s construction sector and are delighted to provide a vast platform for local and regional industry people to source cutting-edge building construction solutions directly from suppliers and manufacturers.”

Visitors to the Kuwait edition of the Big 5 series also showed interest in the 20 free-to-attend workshops that offered attendees continuing professional development (CPD) credits, said the organiser. Delivered by industry professionals and market experts, these seminars enabled participants to upgrade their skills and knowledge to remain ahead of the competition in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Some of the topics discussed included Update and Overview of Kuwait’s 2035 Sustainable Energy Targets, Kuwait’s Green Building Framework, Cost-effective Techniques to Reduce Water Consumption in Built Environment, in addition to topics such as Estimating True Life Cycle Cost of Green Building, Project Life Cycle Analysis Tools and Applications, Effective Cost Control in Construction Projects, and Health and Safety in Construction Masterclass.

Sachin Tomar, the director of GFS Group of Companies, indicated that this year’s Big 5 Kuwait was almost 45 to 55 per cent bigger than last year’s edition with more national pavilions such as those of Italy and China.

A highlight on the first day was the performance of diggers (backhoes) famous throughout the world as ‘Dancing Digger Show’ organised for the first time in Kuwait by JCB Middle East, the leader in construction machinery, along with its local partner Riham General Trading Company.

A team of expert backhoe operators organised well-orchestrated stunt performances of diggers, including driving a machine under a machine raised up on its hydraulic arms.

The show demonstrated to visitors the versatility and performance of the JCB machinism, the organisers said.