Sharjah’s Expo Centre has emerged as one of the prime exhibition venues in the UAE with events covering a host of activities from lifestyle to machinery and maritime services.

Hectic preparations were going for the holding of the “Italian Lifestyle in the Emirates Exhibition” scheduled for May 24 to 27. Organisers of the event are the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the UAE, the GCC Representative Office, Artex-Italy and Expo Centre Sharjah. Supporting it are the Italian Trade Commission in Dubai and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Some 200 exhibitors are taking part. The Italian Trade Commission pavilion had booked 150 Italian companies.
Expo Centre was the venue of a very successful maritime industry exhibition in April.  The displays included the latest in designing and building of different kinds of vessels including offshore support vessels, cargo ships, tankers, tugs, ferries and patrol boats as well as all types of ship repair and port operations products and cargo-handling services.
The forums and product presentation seminars held alongside the show tackled various issues facing the industry and introduced new products and services to visitors and participants.
The show was organised jointly by Expo Centre Sharjah and Baird Publications of Singapore. Ninety-six per cent of the exhibitors confirmed their intention to participate at the next edition of the show, according to the organisers.
The exhibition was held under the patronage of Sharjah Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi and featured 180 exhibitors from over 26 countries.
Reinforcing the popularity of the event, about 20 per cent of the space has already been booked for the 2006 edition.
A total of 2,401 trade visitors from the maritime industry attended the event. Apart from the GCC countries, which accounted for the major chunk of visitors (1,263), buyers also came from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan and Yemen.  The exhibition also provided a platform for the announcement of a major enterprise. Zener One Net LLC, a joint venture to provide all satellite (maritime and land) solutions for the UAE and Middle East, was set up on April 19, 2005, on the sidelines of the show. It’s a joint venture between Zener Group of Dubai and One Net, Cyprus.
Caterpillar Marine Power Systems displayed its new C-series (C-7 to C-32) engines. “These engines are mainly used for pleasure and commercial crafts and speed boats. Our engines are of superior reliability and built to last,” said Surendra Shankar, senior sales engineer, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems.
 Chowgule and Company Limited, Goa, India, which has a fabrication capacity of 6,000 tonnes per year and a total area of 42,000 sq m, highlighted cargo carriers, small tankers, landing craft and flat-top barges.
 Sunrise Ship Trading LLC Dubai, which is an agent for several international companies, including Baudouin and Trac, showcased heavy-duty inboard diesel engines. “These engines are mainly used for yachts, tugs, fishing boats, ferries, ro ro ferries and navy vessels,” said Mr Denis J A Loubiere, project manager, MY UM Hurair.
Al Sayegh Brothers Trading LLC displayed new outboard engines (two stroke, four stroke and TLDI) from Japan’s Tohatsu Outboards. “These engines are quiet, lightweight, environment friendly and consume low fuel,” said Faiz Ahmed Faizee, business development manager, Al Sayegh Brothers Trading LLC.
Bharati Shipyard Limited of India, which is undergoing a modernisation/expansion programme, focused on a variety of vessels including tugs, offshore vessels, container ships, chemical carriers and passenger ships.      
Among the prominent firms and organisations present at the expo were Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Dubai Ship Docking Yard (Al Jadaf), Dubai Drydocks, Dubai Maritime City, Reintjes Middle East LLC, Riviera Pool Middle East, Rolls-Royce and Saab Marine Middle East.