Calcutta, Dec. 4: The Indian Engineering Exhibition (INDEE) in Egypt, which was organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), was a success with orders worth $1 billion booked and $6 million of business enquiries generated.

INDEE-Cairo hosted a number of interactions with the Egyptian business community, which generated over 5,000 new contacts for the participants and 6,000 visitors.

“This is the 16th in the series of INDEE exhibitions and the council’s second venture in Egypt. The first had taken place in 2000. Statistics reveal that export of engineering goods before INDEE, between 1994-95 and 1999-2000, grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 per cent. However the CAGR has been over 26 per cent after the INDEE, between 2000-01 and 2005-06,” said M.C. Shah, chairman of the exhibition and delegation subcommittee, EEPC.

Major exhibits on display included automotive components, hand tools, cutting tools, pharmaceutical machinery, electrical appliances, fasteners, pumps, diesel engines, gears & gear boxes, castings and forgings, stainless steel utensils and railway track fitting.

One of the exhibitors, Mecpro Heavy Engineering Ltd, signed an agreement for the modification of the deodorisation unit of Egypt-based edible oil plant, Misroil & Soap Co, for $150,000.

EEPC also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for extensive interaction opportunities with its Indian counterpart. The exhibition also attracted visitors from Middle East and other North African (MENA) region.

Export of engineering goods and services to Egypt was $145.58 million in 2005-06, 52 per cent higher than the previous year. Import of engineering items from Egypt in 2005-06 was $93 million.