UAE

The first edition of Ipex Digital Middle East took baby steps with 46 exhibitors from 8 countries participating at the show. A total of 2416 visitors from 16 countries visited the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) where the inaugural exhibition was hosted.

Binu Pillai, exhibition director, IPEX Digital ME said, "Our visitor promotion campaign was very targeted and aggressive. The quality of visitors were much appreciated by all the exhibitors. Specially the presence of key decision makers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen and Oman. We are currently in discussion with major suppliers and key stakeholders to identify the ideal frequency for the show and the dates will be announced soon."

Various seminars, conferences and presentations from experts were organised for the visitors during the expo. Inspite of an aggressive marketing campaign by the organisers, the response from visitors and exhibitors was lukewarm.

While some participants expressed concern, there were others with a positive approach saying that the smaller size of the exhibition worked to their advantage since all visitors to the show passed by their booths, gaining them eyeballs, serious inquiries and some orders.

The 3-day event was inaugurated by Mohamed Omar Abdulla, the Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi. Also present at the occasion were Butti Mohamed Butti Al Qubaisi, general director, Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi, Hamad Abdullah Al Mass, executive director, Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi and Fahad Al Raqbani, director general, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development.