The Middle East interiors and construction sector is anticipated to grow to a trillion-dollar market in the next few years and this presents tremendous opportunities to
Philippine furniture and building materials industries, according to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry.
MEED, the Middle East’s leading online business opportunity tracker, reported that the countries that make the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) imported some USD 5 billion furniture and interior products in 2012. It also mentioned that the Middle East and North African (MENA) region’s commercial real estate sector continues to expand, thus the demand for quality, creative interior design, furnishings, and textiles intensify.
The opening of the residential property market in Abu Dhabi, multi-million projects in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Auwain and Qatar, plus the recently announced Enaar mega-residential and commercial development that will create an entire suburb of Cairo, are among the many current and planned schemes.
Even Qatar, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, demands bigger furniture and construction supply due to its budding real estate sector including the USD 5 billion New Doha International Airport, Hamad Medical City, Qatar Education City, the General Library, the Islamic Museum, Science and Technology Park, modern shopping malls, new hotels, and sports venues.
To capitalize on this fast growing market of Middle East, ten companies will represent the country in the 16th Index Dubai, the most significant and largest international exhibition for furnishing and interior products in the world. Scheduled on November 7-11 at the Dubai International Exhibition Center, the Philippines will be joining the said annual show for the fifth time. It will highlight more than 1, 000 exhibitors from 50 countries including Europe, America, and the Far East, and is expected to attract over 30, 000 trade visitors including architects, hoteliers, contractors, agents, and private buyers from around the globe.
In the past, trade promotions to Dubai is highly focused on what the Philippines can offer in the area of construction, but with the mushrooming of hotels and high-end offices in Dubai, a window of opportunity has opened for the interior industry.
This year, the Philippine delegation to Index will include 33 Point 3 Exports, Inc. (hand woven rattan table/home accessories); Bon-Ace Fashion tools, Inc. (fiber cast and shell inlaid home accessories/lighting); Designer’s Décor, Inc. (flower arrangement, bonsai, artificial trees as tall as 120 ft.); Designs Ligna, Inc. (case goods, bedroom/dining collections made of American ash wood); Kriska Do International Corp. (hand-made vases, candle holders, jars); Lightworks Resources, Inc. (furniture, artwall, vases with water features); Loran Industries, Inc. (furniture, lamps, home accessories furnished manually); Speedy Crafts International Corp. (laminated and coconut shell/seashell inlaid home accessories/gift items); Stoneworld Impex, Inc. (fiber cast and fossil stone/shell inlaid accent tables, home décor); and Scherer Jardin Plants (artificial plants and outdoor furniture).
Filipino furniture manufacturers are known for creating classic designs with a modern touch from natural elements such as stone, wood, shell, and coconut. The Philippines has been recognized by the International Design Yearbook and Frankfurt Tendence Lifestyle, to cite a few, thus making the country an influential force in the new Asian design.
‘We have been exhibiting at Index four three years now. The show indeed is the perfect platform to do business with not just Dubai, but all the other countries in the Middle East. With our new and more elegant designs, we are expecting to make larger deals this year,’ said Mrs. Rashmi Tolentino Singh, Executive Vice President of Lightworks Resources, Inc.
Philippines generated a total sales of USD 4.8 million from last year’s participation, 60% higher than 2004’s USD 3 million.
Trade Assistant Secretary and CITEM head Fe Agoncillo-Reyes said, ‘Aside from exploiting on the Middle East market, we also aim to sustain the trade leads gained from previous years and to establish linkages with overseas design firms for possible partnerships and outsourcing arrangements.’
To date, the Philippines ranked 36 in the list of furniture exporters worldwide, with total exports amounting to USD 260 million as of last year, according to the National Statistics Office.
There are about 5, 000 Filipino contractors handling both local and foreign projects from airports and industrial plants to design consultancy. The country’s technologically-driven manufacturing processes contribute much to the Philippines’ image as a reliable provider of furniture and construction materials to vast markets like United Sates, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, Europe, and the rest of Asia.
