Gulf Construction Online - Expo to give insight into booming market

Project Qatar

Visitors at last year’s show.

Expo to give insight into booming market

This year’s Project Qatar comes at a time when the country is poised to launch numerous mega projects in preparation for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

01 April 2013

PROJECT Qatar marks its 10th edition this year at the Doha Exhibition Centre with 100 per cent of the 70,000 sq m of exhibition space already booked, an 11 per cent increase over last year.

The international trade construction, building, environmental technology and materials exhibition being held from May 6 to 9 will provide an insight into over $2 trillion worth of projects planned in Qatar and the GCC until 2018.

“We are commemorating a full decade of serving Qatar and the GCC region’s immense building needs and booming construction sector,” says a spokesman for IFQ Qatar, the organiser.

Project Qatar, Qatar’s largest construction event, targets every trade buyer and decision-maker from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and other Gulf states, he adds. The show will enable exhibitors to present the latest construction products, services and technologies to a region-wide audience that is on the lookout for up-to-date technology and state-of-the-art equipment. More than 2,100 exhibitors will be setting up their stalls at Project Qatar this year, with 30 per cent of them making their debut at the show, according to the organiser.

Also, more than 51 national pavilions have confirmed their attendance including those from Malaysia, Korea, Greece, the UAE, Canada, Austria, Turkey, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, China, India, Italy, Romania, Egypt, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Thailand, the UK, the US, Iran, Sweden, Kuwait, Pakistan and Taiwan. The largest of these pavilions will be hosted by Turkey covering 1,200 sq m, followed by Germany with more than 1,122 sq m of space.

Commenting on the construction market in Qatar, the spokesman says: “Qatar, the region’s hottest construction market, offers unmatched opportunities for local, regional and international construction companies. Given the magnitude of the construction projects planned and the ambitious timetable the government has committed to, there is an unprecedented need for international expertise, new technology and up-to-date construction equipment.”

“Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup led the government to plan for high levels of investment in infrastructure and real estate development – approximately $225 billion between 2011 and 2016, of which $125 billion has been set aside for construction and energy projects alone. Qatar’s construction market is expected to grow annually by an average of 12.5 per cent over the next decade. The majority of this growth is expected in 2013 and 2014, when most of the projects are anticipated to start.”

Project Qatar provides an opportunity to network with the country’s top construction companies and decision-makers, reach out to large numbers of buyers and generate new business deals.

Also held concurrently with the show will be a number of other exhibitions including:

• Energy Qatar 2013: This international exhibition for power generation, electricity, alternative energy, lighting, water technology, solar technology and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) provides a suitable B2B platform to source the needs of the country. “Figures show that Qatar’s power generation will take a quantum leap during the next eight years registering a 140.2 per cent increase,” the spokesman says.

• Qatar Stone Tech 2013: The international stone and stone technology show will bring together top distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, agents and engineers from all over the world. The event offers several lucrative opportunities for businesses wanting to grow their client base and provides a dynamic environment for networking and sales. The show covers cutting, polishing and handling equipment; marble finished products; natural stone; quarrying, processing and installation equipment; and stone blocks, slabs and finished products.

“While Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the two major stone importers in the region, Qatar stands as the third largest stone market in the GCC in terms of both consumption and imports,” the spokesman says. “Estimates indicate that stone consumption in Qatar will peak in the years 2013 and 2014, pushing the import bar even higher as the currently available supplies fall short of the increasing demand.”

• Heavy Max 2013: This 10th international exhibition for heavy machinery aims to attract major manufacturers and suppliers aiming to meet the demand of a $125-billion construction market. It covers technologies, equipment and products including heavy machinery technology and equipment; cranes and tower cranes; tractors, loaders and skid-steer loaders; lifting appliances and conveyors; formwork and scaffolding; construction vehicles and equipment; mining machines; and machines and plants.

There will also be conferences and seminars on facility management and other topics.

Last year’s Project Qatar was a great success. Spread over an exhibition space area of 62,000 sq m – an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year – it surpassed all expectations, including its previous edition in 2011, thanks to an overwhelming response from both exhibitors and visitors, says the spokesman. A total of 2,083 exhibitors from 48 countries including 22 national pavilions participated at the show last year, which was visited by 45,995 people.