Sharjah, Jan.14th,2006 (WAM) -- SteelFab, the Middle East's largest display of steel machinery, will further drive up the region'sbooming machine tools market.

To be inaugurated on January 22 at Sharjah Expo Centre, SteelFab2006 is being organized by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of theSharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Already, the Middle East market for machine tools is substantial.

In 2005, its total import to the region is estimated to have exceededUS$ 2960 million.

Within the GCC, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the largest importers of machinery accounting for nearly 70% of the total imports. During last year, the two countries together imported machinetools worth roughly US$ 750 million.

Of this, UAE's share was approximately US$ 246 million. Specialindustrialised machines were major imports in the category, crossing US$ 135 million.

For Saudi Arabia too, special industrialized machines were on topof the machine tools import list with USD $ 278.51 million worth of imports. Other imports in the category included machine tools with removal of material, machine tools without material removal, metal machine tools parts and metal working machinery.

"Demand for machine tools in the UAE has been experiencing a significant increase mainly due to the booming construction sector,rapid industrialization and a rise in downstream activities," said Mr.

Fasahat Ali Khan, Acting Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

"Coupled with these factors along with the thrust on re-exports andthe fact that the UAE is an established regional procurement base, theimport of machine tools will further rise in the coming period," he said.

The UAE is third most important re-export center in the world afterHong Kong and Singapore respectively. In 2004, its total re-exports amounted to US$ 27.65 billion.

"SteelFab is the ideal market entry vehicle for global manufacturersof machine tools eyeing the Middle East market," said Mr. Khan.

The three-day SteelFab, which will feature Steel, Fasteners, Accessories,Surface Preparation, Machinery and Tools, Welding and Cutting, Finishingand Testing equipment, and Coatings and Anti-Corrosion material, willbegin at Expo Centre Sharjah on January 22.

The event will feature machinery from Austria, China, Czech Republic,Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, UK andUSA.

It will also showcase welding and cutting displays from Austria, Belgium,China, Finland, India, Iran, Italy, Switzerland, Taiwan (ROC), Turkey,UK, and USA.

Given the focused profile of the show, a large number of trade visitors,especially fabrication yard managers, production managers, procurementmanagers, estimators, planning and design engineers, from across the MiddleEast are expected to visit the event.