UFI opens Bahrain event with great success

Exhibition industry professionals from 23 countries took part in the fourth, annual Open Seminar in the Middle East of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, which commenced yesterday

Exhibition industry professionals from 23 countries took part in the fourth, annual Open Seminar in the Middle East of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, which commenced yesterday at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC).

Hosted by Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) from March 29-31, 2010, the seminar is themed, “Toolbox for Future Exhibition Management,” and provided an excellent forum for participants from around the region and beyond to discuss topics that are pertinent to the exhibitions industry ranging from planning and preparation to the practicalities of organizing exhibitions in different markets. BECA has been a member of UFI, headquartered in Paris, since 1995.

Mr. Hassan Jaffar Mohamed, CEO of BECA, welcomed VIP representatives from UFI including HE Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, UFI vice president and Middle East/Africa Chapter chairman; Vincent Gerard, UFI managing director; Paul Woodward, UFI Asia/Pacific regional manager, Hong Kong; and Ibrahim Khaldi, UFI regional manager, Middle East, as well as over 80 delegates from different parts of the world who attended the Bahrain event, saying, โ€œThis is a[n] excellent opportunity for Bahrain to showcase its expertise in the exhibition industry to seasoned professionals and for them to network with our local businesses to develop mutually beneficial results.โ€

UFIโ€™s regional seminar is an important annual event for the industry sector, and this year included sessions with industry experts, interactive panels, and structured networking opportunities. Speakers at the whole day seminar included Rashid Toefy, CEO of Cape Town International Convention Centre; Karla Juegel, managing director of Exhibition & Event Management, Munich; Joechen Witt, CEO of JWC, Cologne; Patrick Seitter, head of Marketing/Communication, European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Bern; and Simon Foster, CEO of United Business Media (UBM) International Media, Maarsen.

The UFI Seminar also featured a panel discussion led by Mr. Gerard with the participation of Barbara Rowell, CEO of Jacaranda Images, Amman; Sue Howarth, client liaison director of ADNEC; and Abdulnabi Daylami, CEO of Bahrain Tourism Company. Mr. Woodward, UFI Asia/Pacific regional manager of Hong Kong, will moderate the event.

Sponsored by local companies Gulf Air, Arabian Exhibition Management, Cityneon, and PICO, the regional event also has the support of global players including US-based BPA Worldwide and Saudi-based Dhahran International Exhibitions Company, with National Exhibitions and Conferences Committee of the United Arab Emirates as the Platinum Sponsor. Media Sponsors are German publication m+a and UK-based Exhibition World.

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition industry, represents 540 member organizations comprising exhibition organizers, hall owner managers, associations, and partners of the exhibition industry present in 82 countries on the six continents. For the full Open Seminar Program and online registration, please go to: www.ufi.org/manama2010 .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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