The second annual Katara International Amber Exhibition, the country’s first exhibition dedicated to amber and the second largest international exhibition on amber ore, opened yesterday at Katara Hall Building 12.
More than 90 stalls representing 13 countries including Qatar, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Sweden, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, as well as representatives of associations and international bodies specialising in amber are taking part at the four-day event.
Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara Cultural Village, opened the exhibition in the presence of a large number of dignitaries including ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions and amber industry delegates.
Al Sulaiti said that the exhibition witnessed a remarkable growth in its second year, both in terms of the number of local and international participants and in the number of visitors. “This shows that Katara International Amber Exhibition has succeeded in becoming an important international platform that brings together the most prominent traders, experts and enthusiasts in the field of amber,” he said.
He stressed that Katara was keen, through this exhibition, to merge the marketing, economic and cultural aspects of amber trade. He added the event offers the rarest types of amber catering to the different tastes of the audience as well as several activities are being held as part of the exhibition.
Al Sulaiti pointed out that the second edition provides an exceptional and distinctive shopping experience, as it constitutes an important forum that brings together merchants and experts in one place.
“We are working through this exhibition to enhance Qatar’s position as an international destination for the trade and acquisition of amber, especially as the exhibition has become a preferred destination for global companies. The opening of a permanent headquarters for amber through the Katara Center for Amber, in addition to signing a set of agreements to hold training and educational workshops under the supervision of international experts, will further contribute to enhancing this position.”
Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Sayed, General Supervisor of the exhibition, said that the second edition is characterised by the huge participation from 13 Arab and foreign countries, while the number of participants in the first edition did not exceed five.
“The increase in the number of companies and exhibitors, especially those known for the quality of amber they specialize in, such as from Germany, Poland and Russia guarantees the continuity and uniqueness of the exhibition in the Middle East,” he said.
He said the Katara Center for Amber includes a permanent amber showroom and an amber laboratory, and this centre will become a meeting place for amateurs and experts and traders from inside and outside Qatar, and thus Katara will become a major destination for amber in the Middle East. The exhibition runs until Saturday and is open from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 10pm.
