Raising the bar

A year ago, Logistics Middle East’s Material Handling supplement was pretty bullish about the sector’s prognosis for the year ahead, with the editor’s letter reminding readers that Dubai had experienced an 84% growth in the supply chain and logistics sector during the four years prior to 2007.

Fast forward to 2009, and anyone reading the local press would assume that the halcyon days of double-digit rises in revenue have all but gone. But a quick overview of company plans in the region indicates that while some expansion plans may be on hold, the belief in the material handling market, and its community spirit, is stronger than ever.

In our outlook for the sector this year, Logistics Middle East contacted some of the region’s most well-known players and asked them to provide a long-term assessment of the industry’s future. An underlying theme instantly became obvious: the need to provide a better service to your customer has never been more clear.

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That service can take a number of guises – from a higher quality of product to offering better after-sales provision – but firms that don’t elect to fully understand their clients are going to find their order books diminishing as the months go by.   

Also in this edition, we have an in-depth preview of the Materials Handling Middle East show, which will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre between 31st May and 1st June. Logistics Middle East has managed to source the opinions of several attendees – including an encouraging number of first-timers – as to what the show means to them and the benefits that participants can gain from turning up.

Finally, as many of you will be aware,
the Supply Chain and Transport Awards will take place at Dubai’s Mina A’Salam Hotel on Monday 1st June, in conjunction with the Materials Handling Middle East show. We hope to see you there.