Big Interview
A final
thought?
need to deliver genuine business
opportunities and connect exhibitors
to top decision-makers from public
and private sectors to set business in
motion.
As for working with venues,
providing profile protection for an
exhibition is necessary to maintain a
competitive edge.
When it comes to venues, the
dynamics can differ between regions.
In many countries, venues are owned
by the government and provide
leeway for organising exhibitions,
with a focus on developing local
industries and communities, with
fewer restrictions.
However, many regional venues
are privately-owned, may request
a share of the revenues and apply
certain restrictions for using outside
services (for example, catering and
stand-building). This would also
increase the asking price per square
metre for exhibitors.
I believe that Egypt and the GCC
are highly-attractive for the tradefair
business. On the other hand, Iraq
is an emerging market that cannot
be overlooked. Despite political and
security fluctuations that Iraq has
witnessed over the past few years,
it is up to us as tradefair organisers
to show potential international
exhibitors that rapid changes bring
big opportunities, and also highlight
the government’s commitment to
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk
fighting corruption and developing
the economy.
What trends do you observe in the
regional market and where will you
be placing you own emphasis in
future to win more business? Can
we expect new launches and what
of M&A activity?
The Middle East exhibitions market
has seen remarkable expansion in
the last few years and is now highly-
competitive. It is crucial to stay on
your toes and be ready to adapt to
any shifts in the market. Embracing
innovation and moving away from
generalised exhibitions towards more
sector-specific ones that provide more
value is one observed trend in the
region.
At IFP, we are continuously
working on developing new
concepts and exploring new sectors
that have big business potential.
In Lebanon for example, we are
tackling the processing, packaging,
printing, and paper sectors with
the 4P East Med exhibition, as well
as the technological scene with our
Sustainable Digital Economic
Summit. On the other hand, we
are moving forward with Confex-
style events within various sectors
to test out new and existing markets.
These events are stepping stones to
potential large-scale international
exhibitions.
Innovation is
increasingly
coming
from outside
the events
industry as
entrepreneurs
and
trendsetters
are bringing
new ideas to
the table that
can transform
the industry
to become
more effective
and efficient.
That is why I
believe event
organisers
should
involve the
younger
generation
to become
more agile
and create an
atmosphere
that is more
receptive and
adaptive to
change.
What are your personal goals for
the next five years and beyond?
And how does a busy CEO spend his
rare free time?
As President of the Lebanese Italian
Business Council (LEBITALIA), I’m
keen on developing the synergy
between Lebanese and Italian
businesses, and establishing
sustainable relations in economic,
industrial, and trade fields that will
strengthen local businesses, and help
create more jobs.
On a personal level, I enjoy hikes
with family and friends in my
parents’ pine-embraced village that
is very dear to me. It is a beautiful
town nestled in the Mount Lebanon
region, just 23km from Beirut. I
have refurbished an abandoned
silk factory there and turned it into
a beautiful retreat that contributes
to reviving the village and creates
numerous jobs for the local people. I
believe giving back to the community
is very important.
What were the main takeaways the
recent UFI Conference in Dubai
and the challenges and successes
involved with being part of the
organisation of the event? How is
the Middle East Chapter faring?
The recent UFI Conference in Dubai
was a remarkable experience that
brought together the movers and
shakers of the industry.
Engaging the youth in the
exhibitions industry and
transforming it into a more engaging
and rewarding experience were
key highlights of the discussions.
Initiatives such as B2B Matchmaking,
Hosted Buyers Programme, Live
shows, professional workshops
and edutainment are proving to be
necessities for organisers to deliver
successful and impactful events.
After three years of missing a
regional MEA conference, the UFI
Chapter is now in a better state,
especially after appointing an Area
Manager in Dubai, and more contact
is being made with the chapters’
members.
Issue 3 2019
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