SAUDI ARABIA - The Informa Group has set up Informa Saudi Arabia, an event partnership with the Kingdom’s National Exhibition Company.
Negotiations are reportedly in the final stages for the new company’s offices in Jeddah to be operational by mid-March. “Initially the office will consist of a focus team, but we will be looking for significant growth over the next three years,” Informa CEO Peter Rigby, pictured, told a press conference at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events.
Cityscape Jeddah and Cityscape Riyadh are already lined up, with more large-scale events planned in the kingdom across various sectors over the next 18 months. Informa says its dual strategy will be to launch internationally recognised event brands, while also developing local events organically.
“Saudi Arabia is an incredibly important market for Informa’s global growth and we are currently working on a number of ventures aimed at bringing more world class events to the Kingdom,” said Rigby. “The Saudi government has made commendable strides in the area of foreign investment and business activity and the timing is right for Informa to establish itself in this burgeoning market.”
MD of Informa Saudi Arabia, Rohan Marwaha, said the time was right for the company’s expansion in the Kingdom: “Saudi Arabia has always been an important market for many companies in the region.”
Hussain Al Harithy, co-owner of the Saudi NEC, described the link-up as “a first class arrangement for the country”. The new company is registered and based in the kingdom.
