Organised by the country's reputed event management firm Global Exhibitions & Conferences LLC (GEC), IMTEX Oman 2012 is being conducted under the patronage of Oman's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The event also has the official support of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), which manages seven industrial estates in different parts of the country as well as the Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC).

"IMTEX Oman 2012 is primarily intended to cater to the rapidly growing demand for all types of industrial machinery and equipments. The exhibition will bring together the biggest gathering of decision makers from a wide range of sectors and industry professionals, thus making the event valuable in helping equipment manufacturers to target their potential clients," said C. J. Paul, Chief Executive Officer of GEC, the leading organiser of industry-specific trade shows and conferences in the sultanate.

With the Omani government presently focusing on economic diversification with special emphasis on the industrial sector, the demand for industrial machinery, tools, equipment and hardware is growing rapidly in the sultanate.

The government's strategy is to build both gas-based industries and various downstream projects. As several large-scale industries including an aluminium smelter, polyethylene, aromatics and steel plants came up in Sohar, there has been ample scope for building a host of downstream projects. The Sohar industrial port and its adjoining industrial area and free zone are offering all the facilities needed for these downstream ventures.

Business opportunities in Oman are also being boosted by the investor-friendly policies of the government, which include duty-free import of machinery, equipment and spare parts for new industries. The government is also expanding three industrial estates -- Sohar, Rusayl and Raysut -- to meet the growing demand from entrepreneurs for setting up industrial units. Further, two new industrial estates will be established soon to cater to the demands for additional industrial plots.

Also, the Omani government is investing heavily to further develop the country's transport infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports and a nationwide railway network.

For instance, as much as $11.5bn has been allocated for transport and airport development projects alone in the eighth five-year plan, which covers the period between 2011 and 2015.

Another $14bn and $10bn are allocated for various port projects and the newly planned railway projects, respectively. All these investments are boosting demand for all types of machineries, equipments and machine parts.

IMTEX Oman 2012 will prominently showcase everything related to industrial machinery, including electrical products, machine parts, cables, control equipment, generator sets, pollution control systems, construction tools, cutting tools, cleaning machinery, drilling machinery, moulding machinery and cranes.

Decision makers from a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, petrochemical, construction, mining and quarrying and transport and logistics, will be attending the trade fair to check out the products and equipment on display for their day-to-day requirements.