An ongoing steel fabrication event in Sharjah has overwhelmed its organisers by registering a visitor turnout that was much higher than expected. Expo Centre Sharjah, which is hosting the 10th SteelFab from January 20th to 23rd, had expected a double-digit growth in footfall to its exhibition that caters to the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry in the region. However, riding on the back of a growing economy and the positive sentiment in the core sector due to the winning bid to host the World Expo 2020, SteelFab 2014 recorded a massive 35 per cent rise in visitors in the first two days of the show. "The New Year has started off with a bang for Expo Centre Sharjah. Expectations were high but such a high visitor turnout has literally overwhelmed us," said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, while releasing the visitor figures for the first two days of the show. The show has already attracted 5,979 trade visitors in its first two days as against the 7,296 for all the four days in 2013. "On average SteelFab has attracted about 7000 visitors in every edition. The high visitor turn-out this year is an indication of a return to the pre-recession years for SteelFab. I believe that apart from the positive market sentiment, the expansion of the show by adding a new hall and new segments has played a key role in making the show much more attractive for the regional fabrication industry," said Mr. Midfa.