Companies and countries attending this year’s edition of Project Qatar, the 10th International Trade Exhibition for Construction Technology, Building Materials, Equipment and Environmental Technology For Qatar, are aggressively growing new business and pursuing leads in Qatar following the exhibition’s successful conclusion earlier this month.
As with previous years, Project Qatar acts as a catalyst for a strong pipeline of deals and announcements throughout the year. Initial feedback from the 2013 edition is overwhelmingly positive, spanning a wide geography that encompasses Europe, Asia and the GCC.
The Malaysian External Trade and Development Corporation (MATRADE), after surveying Malaysian companies that attended Project Qatar, estimates the value of potential expected business from the show to be QAR 300 million. For Malaysian companies, specific opportunities in the Qatari market exist in the building materials, maintenance services, information and communication technology, green building solutions, and energy conservation sectors.
Mr. Pascal Roger, Senior Trade Advisor at UBIFRANCE, the organization which led the participation of French companies at Project Qatar also had positive news to report: “Following Project Qatar 2013, even at this early stage, we’re proud to announce that there are five or six French firms engaged in serious negotiations with local companies. This underscores the show’s record of delivering results for companies but most importantly it highlights the strength of the French delegation of companies and the competitiveness of the materials, equipments, and solutions they offer.”
An official at the British Embassy in Doha also confirmed that companies from the United Kingdom are now in talks with local partners: “The UK companies who participated at the show have built new contacts and met potential business partners and clients,” said Bassam Al Tahtamouni, Senior Commercial Attaché at the Embassy. “Project Qatar has given them serious insight into the major opportunities available to them not only in Qatar, but also in the region as a whole. A good number of these companies are now engaged in business talks with local partners.”
Shortly after the show’s conclusion, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) announced that the 10th anniversary of Project Qatar saw the largest-ever participation of Indian firms in Project Qatar. Also on the sidelines of Project Qatar 2013 and in conjunction with the Italian Embassy in Doha, the Italian Trade Commission announced it plans to open an independent trade office in Doha for Italy’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow their presence here.
IFP Qatar General Manager George Ayache summed up the show in this way: “Each year we’ve risen to higher and higher levels and that rings true this year. Our main measure of success is that we continue to support Qatar’s growth by connecting thousands of investors with business opportunities, facilitating the engagement of foreign companies in the lucrative local market and boosting public private partnerships. We have done that with Project Qatar 2013. Recent reports show that construction activity in Qatar’s booming projects market has yet to peak, which indicates that there is a great deal of new businesses and tenders on the horizon. I extend my gratitude to the visitors, exhibitors and sponsors who make this event the monumental success that it is and we’ll see them all back in Doha next year.”
On day one of Project Qatar 2013, the construction world was welcomed to Doha by His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin AbdulAziz Al-Thani, Minister of Business and Trade of the State of Qatar, who joined trade officials and companies from around the world on Monday to officially inaugurate Project Qatar 2013.
11,265 visitors flocked to the Doha Exhibition Center on day one. Other GCC dignitaries attending the exhibition included Prince Mohammed Bin Turki A. A. Al Saud, President Dar Al Riyadh, a key Saudi exhibitor. Special to Project Qatar this year was a gala, gathering some of the industry’s most innovative companies to honour local loyalty to the show and celebrate their growth alongside the nation’s prosperous projects sector. Qatari firms took home top honours at Project Qatar awards gala.
Debuting in 2004, Project Qatar has grown in parallel with Qatar’s fast-rising economy and construction sector. Starting with 267 exhibitors and 10,000 sqm of exhibition space at the show’s very first edition, Project Qatar 2013 boasted 2,100 exhibitors and 62,000 sqm of exhibition space this year.
Project Qatar is held under the Auspices of His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. Key local exhibitors include Platinum Sponsors UrbaCon General Contracting (UCC) and Stadia Sports and Leisure Solutions. Key regional and international exhibitors include Gold Sponsors Emirates Steel and Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (MATRADE). Al Sraiya Holding Group is Project Qatar’s Integrity Sponsor this year, and the official contractor is Boom Construction.
FINAL FIGURES | Project Qatar 2013:
• 45,000 visitors
• Over 1,920 international exhibitors; 2,100 total exhibitors
• 62,000 sqm of exhibition space
• 28 national pavilions
• 50 participating countries
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