SIA plans trade delegations to Dubai and Moscow

SIA has scheduled two trade delegations for early 2010 in the United Arab Emirates and Russia

SIA will kick off its 2010 international marketing programme with a trip to Intersec Dubai in the U.A.E. Jan. 17-19. A SIA delegation will then visit Moscow during the Security & Safety Technologies Expo Feb. 2-5.

Participation in the trade delegations is open to both SIA members and non-members, with significant discounts offered to members. Each trip will offer a turnkey programme for participants, with meetings, tours, networking opportunities, transportation and lodging all scheduled in advance. SIA's goal, said Dean Russo, the association's director of international relations, is to make it as easy as possible for companies to break into lucrative overseas markets.

"The potential for growth in the security market in both the Middle East and Russia is obviously huge," Russo said. "These trade missions will give participating companies some great opportunities to expand their businesses while saving them from having to handle the logistical details that can make international marketing so challenging."

SIA is partnering with the U.S. Commercial Service offices in Dubai and Russia to help facilitate one-on-one business matchmaking appointments with prospective agents, distributors and end-users and to provide market briefings on security procurement processes.

In January 2009, Intersec Dubai, the premier platform in the Middle East for security and safety professionals, hosted more than 700 exhibitors and more than 17,000 visitors. SST Moscow, the leading security products trade show for Russia and Eastern Europe, meanwhile, drew more than 300 exhibitors and about 20,000 visitors in February 2009.