Gulf Construction Online - Project Qatar 2011 sets visitor record

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Project Qatar 2011 sets visitor record

01 June 2011

WELL over 40,000 people participated in this year’s Project Qatar 2011 held from May 2 to 5, setting a new record in terms of trade visitors and exhibiting companies.

The eighth edition of the international construction technology and building materials exhibition was a staggering 73 per cent bigger than the last year’s show, underscoring the importance of Qatar in the construction landscape since the announcement that the country would host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Stalls from nearly 1,700 local and international firms from 45 countries were spread across 52,000 sq m at the Doha Exhibition Centre, occupying the biggest tent erected in the Middle East, according to the event’s organiser IFP Qatar.

The event’s project manager Michel Gebrael was quoted as saying that the show this year “has exceeded all expectations”, and that Project Qatar was now the second largest exhibition dedicated to construction in the Middle East after The Big 5 show in Dubai. “I think in a few years we will overtake The Big 5 to become the largest exhibition in the region, since we have the largest construction market and all the support of the construction sector in Qatar. So, definitely the show will grow to be the largest construction exhibition in the Middle East,” he told The Peninsula, a local newspaper.

Gebrael estimated that the final visitor tally would be between 42,000 and 45,000, showing a 10 per cent increase on last year’s figure of 32,000 visitors. He attributed this success to the main infrastructure construction planned or under way in Qatar.

Project Qatar 2011 also received the unprecedented backing on the international community with 16 supporting bodies from construction heavyweights with representatives from the UK, France, Korea, Spain and Australia.

IFP Qatar had commissioned a 30,600 sq m air-conditioned extension to the venue to accommodate the spurt in interest and confidence in Qatar’s construction industry.

“There is currently more than $140 billion in confirmed project construction under way in Qatar and the country is about to embark on an unprecedented construction phase. Project Qatar 2011 is an excellent gauge of just how much growth can be expected in Qatar and will be instrumental for organisations that want to position themselves in this vibrant market,” said George Ayache, general manager of IFP Qatar.

France fielded its largest delegation and doubled the size of its national pavilion at the event. “Project Qatar 2011 is a great opportunity to focus our partnership in the construction domain,” said Michel Dhe, the economic and commercial counsellor of the French Embassy in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Alev Duzjun, commercial counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Qatar said Project Qatar was an important venue to highlight his country’s expertise and growing capacity in the construction industry.

“Turkish companies have already helped complete projects in Qatar estimated at $7 billion,” Duzjun said, adding that the country’s industry was ready to engage further.

The biggest exhibitor in terms of pavilions was the UAE with some 3,000 sq m, followed by Turkey with around 1,800 sq m then Germany, the largest European pavilions with around 1,400 sq m.

Also taking place alongside this year’s event was Heavy Max – the international trade exhibition for heavy machinery, technology and equipment for Qatar and the Gulf.

IFP Qatar has announced plans to stage two editions of Project Qatar next year. The supplementary exhibition will focus on energy and electricity and will be held in late 2012.