MUSCAT: Omani Products Exhibition (OPEX) Committee, the exhibitors who participated at OPEX Jeddah, were felicitated on Wednesday in a grand award ceremony held under the auspices of Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, minister of commerce and industry, at Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat.
The last edition of OPEX Jeddah was organised in Saudi Arabia from May 18 to 21 at the Jeddah Centre for Forum and Events. The exhibition saw participation of 120 exhibitors comprising Omani exporters and export promotion bodies.
The exhibition had over 3,000 visitors and the objectives of the exhibition was to boost exports to new markets by introducing Omani manufacturers to importers, agents, wholesale and other dealers.
The exhibition is organised by a government committee formed by Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). OPEX Jeddah 2015 was the fourth exhibition held annually following OPEX Dubai in 2014, OPEX Doha in 2013 and OPEX Riyadh in 2012.
The best stand award was given to Al Nasr Group of Companies, Omani Foodstuff Factory and Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles. The three companies participated with large bespoke stands which displayed high quality Omani products.
The best small medium enterprise exhibitor award went to Al Shoala Perfumes and the best handicraft award went to two participants Al Husn Perfumes and Al Mur Huser Manufacturing. The OPEX Jeddah Award ceremony was attended by various government officials, Omani manufacturers and prominent businessmen.
The sponsors of the exhibition also received appreciation award for their support to development of Omani exports. OPEX Jeddah 2015 gold sponsors were Al Nasr Marble, Omantel, Saud Bahwan Group, Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives, Poly Products (Raha), Oman Food Stuff Factory, Al Ajmi Marble.
The bronze sponsors were Public Authority for Small Medium Enterprise Development, Export Credit Guarantee Agency of Oman, United Engineering Services, Oman Oil Marketing Company, Oman Arab Bank, Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles, Oman LNG.
The official logistics company was Al Madina Logistics. The event was managed by ACE Exhibitions – Saudi and Tafani Events and Research – Oman.
All exhibitors were awarded a certificate of appreciation and the event ended as a celebration of the success OPEX achieved in Saudi Arabia and the previous years. The manufacturers including industrial, SMEs and handicrafts see this exhibition as the most powerful and largest government vehicle to boost Omani products exports to new markets.
Eng. Basim bin Ali Al Nassri, director general of Marketing for PEIE said, “OPEX has achieved its objective in increasing exports to new markets, introducing industrial companies in agro food, building material, industrial products, fast moving consumer goods to markets which have the highest potential for growth. The exhibition also had participation of small medium companies and Omani handicraft companies.”
The next OPEX exhibition is expected to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April 2016.
