The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
DUBAI / Emirates Business
The UAE’s continued construction boom ahead of Expo 2020, has driven demand for ceramic tiles to increase by almost 70% and, with almost 40% of tiles imported from overseas, this poses huge opportunities for international manufacturers to win contracts on prestigious UAE projects. As the largest exporter of tiles to the UAE, India is well positioned to build on its already strong business ties with the country and, between November 14–19, buyers from the UAE will have the chance to visit the second largest manufacturer of tiles in the world at the Vibrant Ceramics Expo and Summit 2017.
An initiative of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the exhibition will be held in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India with business leaders from the booming local ceramic industry welcoming a delegation of buyers from the UAE. The hosted
programme will offer three nights’ accommodation, meals, local transportation and a helicopter tour of the factory for international delegates. It is the latest in a series of trade partnerships between the two countries, which are expected to achieve trade exchanges worth $100 billion by 2020.
In the UAE, demand for tiles is predicted to grow by 12% to 2020, driven by hotel and tourism projects, which currently amount to a pipeline valued at $8.1bn (AED30bn)
to 2020, according to the 2015 Frost and
Sullivan report, Tiles and Ceramics Market Assessing Growth Trends and New Opportunities in GCC.
In January 2017, 14 strategic partnerships were signed for transport, energy, shipping and trade, between His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This event is being organised in association with the Morbi Ceramics Associations. Spread over 50,000 square metres, it will host more than 250 exhibitors.