MUSCAT: Six Omani marble and stone producers to exhibits at Xiamen International Stone Fair in China from 6 to 9 March.
Global construction is expected to rise by more than 70 per cent to $15 trillion or 13.5 per cent of global GDP by 2025 and China will account for a quarter of that. The four-day fair is expected to bring together over 2,000 of the world’s leading stone suppliers.
Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraa’s director general of Export Development, said: “If Omani stone and marble producers want to get a strong foothold in Asia, then Xiamen is the right trade show to achieve that. It is estimated that by 2030 more than 55 per cent of Asia’s population will live in cities. The building industry in these emerging markets is growing and we want our producers to get a slice of that business.”
Fuelled by a revival in the demand for natural stone over the past ten years, the industry has seen sharp rises in output production. For the first time in its history, stone and marble are everywhere — from office buildings, airports, hotels to private homes.
Joining Ithraa in Xiamen will be representatives from Al Rawas Stone & Granite; Al Turki Enterprises; Hamood Al Rashidi & Bros Trading; Gulf Mining Materials; Al Shanfari Marble; and Al-Zerabi Trading Establishment.
“Participating in Xiamen gives us an extraordinary opportunity to tap into one of the world’s fastest growing markets, meet with existing clients as well as forge ties with new customers. From a marketing perspective, it is a highly important trade show and we have every intention of maximising our participation and wining new business,” remarked Bernardo Garcia, marketing manage, Al Rawas Marble & Granite.
In September 2014, the Sultanate participated at the 49th annual International Trade Fair for Stone Design and Technology (Marmomacc) held in Verona, Italy, where local companies secured over export 100 orders. The agreements each worth between $7,000 and $12,000 saw Omani marble exported to Denmark, Italy, Tunisia, Spain and Egypt.
“Even with these encouraging figures, we cannot be complacent, there is a lot of competition out there and it will be on show in Xiamen. But our producers have the technology, environmental awareness, competitive pricing and superior product to succeed in today’s highly competitive stone and marble industry. Indeed, I am very optimistic about our participation in Xiamen and the future of Oman’s stone and marble sector,” said Al Balushi.
