PALME Middle East, a showcase event for the multi-billion dollar audio visual, light, and sound industry, opened today (April 26) in Dubai.

Inaugurated by Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development, the show will run for three days at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

It will bring together manufacturers and industry experts to examine the latest technology and creative ideas in an industry expected to be worth $3 billion in the Mena region by 2012.

More than 240 exhibitors - an increase of 17 per cent from last year – are participating at PALME Middle East this year, representing more than 800 brands from 30 countries.

While last year’s event attracted a total of 6,000 visitors, organisers Informa Exhibitions expect the figure to rise above 6,500 this week.

Now in its ninth year, the exhibition is being staged in tandem with INSTALL Middle East, the region's only dedicated trade show for professional AV and systems integration technologies, and MUSAC, the regional forum for Musical Instruments and Accessories.

Also returning is the three-day PALME conference, with today’s focus revolving around the future of the lighting and integration solutions industry, addressed by a panel of eight industry experts, including Dr Yasser Mahgoub, associate professor of architecture at the University of Qatar, and Simon Fraser, senior partner of Hopkins Architects.

The opening day featured free-to-attend workshops, including three audio training sessions delivered by SAE Institute, the largest worldwide private college for audio and film production, interactive animation and applied multimedia.

Among the 240-strong exhibitor line-up include several heavy hitters using PALME as a platform to launch their latest products, including Sony and its latest range of installation projectors. – TradeArabia News Service