Throughout four extraordinary days, Project Qatar 2014, the 11th International Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition, transformed the Qatar National Convention Centre into a unique global industry trade fair and business hub, allowing over 2,100 exhibitors from all over the world to cover the QNCC’s entire 41,500 sqm of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.
Under the auspices of HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Project Qatar 2014 was inaugurated by His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, on May 12th. This year’s edition featured 24 pavilions from 47 countries and a number of deals were signed during the event, some of which will be disclosed in the coming months as a result of introductions made at Project Qatar 2014. All types of attendees featured across the four days at Project Qatar 2014, as well as international global companies, delegates, industry consultants, SME’s – both local and regional – well-known figures in Qatari sports were also in attendance.
On the fourth day, Decorator, a Qatar interior design company specializing in marble, signed a deal with entrepreneur and Lekhwiya SC footballer Hussain Ali Shehab to design and fit a new beauty and treatment clinic specializing in hair transplants and other beauty treatments including Turkish solutions, in the Al Markhiya area, in Doha. As part of the deal, Decorator will provide services for the 800sqm space including designing, producing and fully refitting the new elegant and upscale salon. Decorator will also provide high quality maintenance and aftercare services.
Rawad Sleem, Project Manager of Project Qatar, said: “All manner of local, regional and international participants, gathered to see the specialized products, services and solutions featured at Project Qatar 2014. They are the true representatives of the sector who were at the event to conduct high-level business deals. We were particularly pleased to host Lekhwiya SC footballer Hussain Ali Shehab at Project Qatar as he expands his business horizons outside the football arena. Due to the size and scope of infrastructure projects in Qatar, entrepreneurs and companies of the highest caliber featured here at Project Qatar 2014 and the demand for this year’s attendance surpassed our expectations.”
A number of success stories featured throughout the duration of Project Qatar 2014 with organisations coming back repeatedly to the leading regional construction event of the year. Loic Charlot, Sales and Marketing Manager of Marechal Electric / Technor ME, said: “Qatar is a key market for our business development in the Oil & Gas industry, hence exhibiting again this year at Project Qatar. It is a strong opportunity to strengthen our visibility on the market, meet our customers and discover new potential developments. We already secured interesting projects in Qatar through EPCs located in or outside Qatar but are willing to be closer to the market and it is the local companies we are interested in to develop our business. It is an interesting and challenging market, but we will perform well and benefit through local business partnership.”
International companies, which are already active on the Qatari market, chose to be at Project Qatar as the tourism and hospitality sector builds up towards meeting the demands of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One such exhibitor in the French pavilion was Simonin, manufacturer of glulam timber structures and wood components for the construction industry. It built the largest glulam structure in the Middle East for the wellness centre at the new Anantara Resort, Banana Island, Doha. Laurent Lenoir, Export Manager of Simonin, said: The know-how of Simonin made it possible to build an exceptional French oak glulam structure for the dome of a palace at the new Anantara Resort on Banana Island. We are here, delighted to already be taking part in the booming Qatar construction market ahead of Qatar’s vision to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and it has been a pleasure taking part in Project Qatar 2014 as we look to increase our scope of opportunities.”
Rawad Sleem, added: “Project Qatar 2014 is a landmark event in Qatar, which is a pioneering example of how all companies and industry specialists from the construction industry can work in partnership to build a growing Qatar. This year’s 11th edition has been a huge success and Project Qatar will continue to benefit the economy and support mega-projects that will leave a long-lasting legacy in Qatar long after the 2022 FIFA World Cup and working towards achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Project Qatar will return to the Qatar National Convention Centre from 4-7 May 2015.
ifpinfo
19 May