Qatar is hosting the mega go-to event of the year, Project Qatar, next week. The most anticipated and the nation’s largest and most prominent construction exhibition, which is in its successful 16th edition, would be the broadest and the most inclusive to date, according to its organisers International Fairs and Promotions (IFP) Qatar.
Held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the three-day trade exhibition and conference will showcase the mighty construction sector and its all related industries. This year’s edition is expected to welcome the arrival of the world’s leading companies, as businesses across the world take aim on winning new contracts amid increase in spending for projects in the country as part of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The event is set to be the most diverse and comprehensive as well that will see the participation of more than 500 of the most recognised international and local brands and companies from 34 different countries. The participation with more than 20,000 expected visitors, 25,000 square metres of exclusive showrooms featuring the latest and finest products and services, as well as accompanying events to cover the wider needs of the sector, and other features are elements that will make Project Qatar 2019 the premier business event in Qatar and the region, the organisers say.
Qatar is seeing one of the highest construction spending in the world due to the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the Qatar National Vision 2030, which keep the industry in steady growth year-after-year. The efforts to fast track economic growth saw the country’s budget spending in infrastructure increasing up to 45.8 percent of the total planned budget in 2018 to complete major projects.
The global construction sector is expected to see an increase of 12.1 percent between 2017 and 2021 and the amalgamation of global construction leaders in Qatar will accelerate the local industry and Project Qatar to be a good platform for SMEs to garner a major chunk of businesses. International companies account for 70 percent of participating firms, a rate only matched at global exhibitions. China leads Asian countries with 90 participating firms while Italy comes first among European countries with 20 companies. Turkey hosts the second largest pavilion at the exhibition after China.
One of the highlights of this year’s edition is the future focus on innovation in the construction sector is Smart District, dedicated to Qatar’s Smart Nation Program. The Smart District is a platform for smart technology providers, urban planners, innovators and other industry specialists to explore the requirements for Qatar’s digitised cities and connect with local stakeholders while showing the cutting-edge innovations implemented in building, energy, and transportation.
The success is part of the Project Qatar since its launch in 2004. In 2017 alone, it successfully hosted a total of 1,017 companies from 33 countries and 14,208 visitors. It’s sure that this year’s event will also be a stand-out one where the quality of deals and networking opportunities and their successful outcomes would be the testament to the effectiveness of bringing together global industry leaders under one roof.
