*Minister opens 17th edition of ‘International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition'

The staging of this year’s Project Qatar will have a significant and positive impact on Qatar’s efforts to position itself as a key investment destination, said HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, who inaugurated the event Monday.
The 17th edition of the ‘International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition’, which will run until October 7 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), is being held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani.


The minister gestures while touring one of the participating booths at Project Qatar



Public Works Authority Ashgal is Project Qatar's strategic partner in this year's exhibition. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam


Al-Kuwari, who toured the exhibition hall and visited the booths of participating companies, underscored the importance of Project Qatar 2021, saying the event sheds light on the growth witnessed by major development projects being implemented as part of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“The exhibition provides an important platform that brings together major international companies and institutions involved in the construction sector. The event provides an opportunity to learn about the latest technologies, specialised equipment, and the best international practices in this field.
“Moreover, it offers an opportunity to form fruitful partnerships and new business alliances that add value to the local market, as well as contribute to enhancing the investment environment in Qatar,” al-Kuwari pointed out.
Held in partnership with Public Works Authority Ashghal, the construction show is the first to hold an in-person major event in the country with the easing of restrictions associated to Covid-19, welcoming major local and international construction companies, as well as industry professionals to Doha again.
Project Qatar 2021 kicked off with more than 150 exhibitors from Qatar and 11 other countries with the aim of connecting leading global industry players to high-ranking decision-makers, as well as key pioneers in the local market. It is also host to the ‘Future Project Qatar Conference’, ‘Heavy Max Exhibition’, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) trainings and workshops, which are all taking place concurrently at DECC.
IFP Qatar general manager Haidar Mshaimesh said, “The opportunities for the construction market continue to attract various stakeholders from around the world and Project Qatar is well-positioned to provide the platform for them to connect and network throughout the event and beyond.
“We are confident that this event will bring about renewed interest for sector players to share best practices and innovative solutions that support the economic development of the country.”
The ‘Future Project Qatar Conference’, themed ‘Raising the New Future of Construction’, opened with a keynote address from engineer Yousef al-Emadi, Projects Affairs director at Ashghal. He hailed the event’s commitment to continuously advance the construction sector amidst global challenges. He provided an overview of the project opportunities in Qatar for 2021 and onwards and urged construction industry stakeholders to take advantage of the key project opportunities in the country.
Al-Emadi said, “Being part of Project Qatar in 2021 strengthens our communication with various private sector companies involved in the implementation of the country’s major projects.”
Engineer Eisa al-Hammadi, CEO of Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC), and Abdelkrim Boukhaf, senior vice president - Regional Solutions and Services of Siemens, also delivered keynote speeches discussing the potentials of the industry and how the sector can benefit from it.
Ali al-Kuwari, vice president, Marine & Industrial Equipment at Milaha, added: “Exhibiting in Project Qatar is offering us opportunities to highlight our leading services and products, meet, and network with many local and international exhibitors, and form partnerships to strengthen our brand.”
The CPD trainings for professionals also kicked off Monday with industry professionals taking advantage of the learning opportunity free of charge. Several other workshops are set to take place throughout the four days on various topics, such as asset management, funding, financing, and insurance, all of which will be led by experts from a variety of fields.
Project Qatar is supported and sponsored by several government entities, such as Ashghal, QPMC, Milaha, and QTerminals, as well as the sponsorship of Al Sraiya Holding Group, Al Jaber Group, Vodafone, and Elegancia Group, among others.
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