JEDDAH: The 2009 international trade exhibitions, organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Ltd. (ACE) at the Jeddah Center for Forums & Events, opens with meetes’09 — the 14th Middle East Education, Training, Equipment & Solutions Exhibition and Symposium from March 15-18.

The exhibition to follow is Autocare & Transport Arabia (ATA), an event for automotive aftermarket, transport infrastructure and commercial vehicles from March 30 to April 2. This first-time event is on spare parts and accessories, transport, freight and commercial vehicles. Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition (SBIE), the 18th comprehensive showcase for the industry, is the next to be held from April 12-16.

MACHITEC is the 5th Turkish Machine and Machinery Equipment Exhibition being staged by Turkey from May 3 to 6. This Turkish solo country show is being held for the fifth year in succession and will showcase specialist heavy machinery. Saudi Healthcare (SHASH), the 16th medical, insurance, dental, pharmaceutical, scientific equipment and labware exhibition and symposium will be the next to be held from May 11 to 14. This will be held along with Saudi Hospital and Wellbeing.

Food & Hotel Arabia will follow from May 24 to 28. Alongside Food and Hotel Arabia will run Propac Arabia — the 15th international event for production and processing, printing and packaging, plastics and chemicals.

The next to follow will be Saudi International Motor Show (SIMS), the 31st event for motor vehicles, SUVs and motorcycles, from Oct. 25 to 29. COMMTEL — Saudi Arabia’s 23rd event for computing, the Internet, office equipment and accessories, business communications and mobile phones — is set from Dec. 14 to 18.

“There are plans to stage an International Machinery Show in 2010, as demand of heavy machinery will continue to grow due to the ongoing diversifying plans of the Kingdom into non-oil sector,” Zahoor Siddique, exhibitions director at ACE, said yesterday.