Firms eye partnerships at Project Qatar expo

By Ramesh MathewStaff Reporter

Construction equipment, machinery and materials are exhibited at a pavilion of the Project Qatar exhibition

The ninth Project Qatar annual international exhibition of construction materials, building technology and environmental technology began at the Doha Exhibition Centre yesterday.The four-day event was inaugurated by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning HE Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani in the presence of a large number of entrepreneurs, government officials and members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) among others.The event is being held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, the Prime Minister and  Foreign Minister of Qatar.According to the organisers, more than 2,000 companies from about 45 countries across the world have set up stalls at the exhibition.Among the major attractions of the show are the pavilions of a host of participating countries. Among them the pavilions of China, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Malaysia and some of the Arab countries were thronged by the visitors.A number of local companies have also erected attractive pavilions, displaying a large number of construction materials and equipment. As in the previous years, the organisers have utilised every additional space available in the immediate neighbourhood of the Exhibition Centre to erect pavilions and display the equipment of the visiting companies.While heavy equipment and vehicles are displayed on the areas otherwise serving as the car park of the exhibition centre, the organisers have set up a huge temporary exhibition space adjacent to the main complex to accommodate the rising number of participants.

Stalls at the exhibition

The event is considered a unique platform to discuss new projects, explore new partnerships, and generate business leads across all sectors of the construction industry.When contacted, some of the major exhibitors said the event had helped them gain a significant foothold in the local and regional market and their companies stand to get considerable visibility through their participation here.  However there were also a few others who felt there are chances of getting “drowned” in the midst of several hundreds of participants at the exhibition venue.An interesting aspect of this year’s expo is the participating companies’ increasing thrust on the construction of stadium facilities. A number of European and Australian firms have come with complete solutions in stadium building. The Chinese too have arrived with similar technologies.  Many of the participants expressed hope of getting  an opportunity to serve the country’s construction sector in the coming years, on account of the large number of multi-million projects being undertaken locally. The organisers have claimed a 25% growth in the number of participants this year compared to the previous years.Speaking to journalists after the opening, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning HE Sheikh Abdurrahman said, “Qatar has made great strides in developing its economy and bringing it on par with other developing nations. Our work is not done yet and we hope to realise the monumental development vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.The Minister added that exhibitions and commercial expos like Project Qatar are essential to attract top companies to Qatar. “We welcome this platform and wish everyone participating this year a fruitful and productive experience.”Project Qatar is open to the public from 3-10pm until May 3.