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Qatar
BUILDING QATAR The booming construction market in Qatar is creating huge B2B opportunities for national and international investors and companies By Shereen D’Souza, Doha
Q
atar, one of the most promising economies in the GCC region, has approximately USD 346 billion worth of projects in the planning or construction phase. The upcoming construction and building materials exhibition, Project Qatar, has contributed to the development of this sector. Since Project Qatar’s first edition, the number of exhibitors has increased by 73 percent, making it one of the most enticing events to look forward to for industry giants and consumers alike. By the end of 2014, Project Qatar predicts USD 14 bn worth of new contracts will be awarded. IFP, organisers of Project Qatar, revealed that this year, over 2100 companies, from 47 countries with 24 pavilions, are participating, covering 41,500 sqm of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Rawad M. Sleem, project manager of IFP says, “This year, with the move to the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) we have received the highest number of enquiries ever and we were fully booked in less than three months after the launch date of the sales effort. A large number of new exhibitors and new countries will feature for the first time this year.” The move to QNCC, according to Sleem, makes sense given the venue’s considerable size and “the superior, new experience it provides our participants and attendees by offering the latest in communications and technology and the best hospitality.” The 2014 edition will feature previous participants from Egypt,
Turkey, UAE, Italy, Spain, Germany and France and will also welcome participation from new countries like Palestine, Indonesia and Romania. “The event has increased its international reach by adding three new pavilions and, as the market has become more varied, we have bolstered our scope to include more innovative technologies and services to enhance our visitors’ experience,” says Sleem. Last year’s international participation accounted for more than 60 percent of the total number of exhibitors, with the presence of 27 national pavilions, including Austria, Belgium, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Korea, the UAE and the United Kingdom.
What to look out for this year IFP will be introducing technologically advanced features including a specialised show planner, a B2B matchmaking platform for which exhibitors and visitors can register on the Project Qatar website to match their respective profiles and areas of interest, leading to subsequent meetings. Visitors and exhibitors will also benefit from an advanced mobile application that will provide information about the event, the exhibitors’ list, the event planner, the location of the venue, links to social media accounts and much more. Site visit tours to include several large construction sites around Qatar will be organised with an aim to introduce international exhibitors to the activities of the booming construction sector in Qatar. The tours will take place on 13 and 14 May and foreign
www.bqdoha.com
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IFP Qatar has partnered with Advanced Conferences & Meetings to create a series of B2B conferences that give access to expert decision makers and thought leaders alongside the means to network effectively among new business prospects. Lighting Tech Qatar 2014 (12 – 13 May) is a specialised lighting conference targeting construction professionals and government officials in Qatar. This event is brought to Qatar as it readies itself for the extensive 2022 infrastructure requirements, while working towards achieving ambitious nation-wide sustainability standards in line with the 2030 Qatar National Vision. HVAC Tech Qatar 2014 (14 – 15 May) is a forum dedicated to address the latest opportunities and challenges in the HVAC and cooling industries in Qatar. It will bring together private and government project owners, planning bodies, developers, main contractors and consultants. It will showcase the latest technology advancements, along with the latest case studies demonstrating how these advancements can best be applied to the construction environment in Qatar. Future Interiors Qatar (9 – 14 Sept) provides the ideal meeting place for project owners, project managers, design professionals, contractors and consultants to stay up-to-date on industry trends and lucrative business opportunities. Future Interiors Qatar will enable discussions on the advancements in interior design technologies and sustainable design approaches.
Rawad M. Sleem, project manager of IFP
exhibitors who are interested can contact IFP Qatar to register.
Challenges It’s essential to keep pace with the needs of a continuously evolving market and there is an increasing shift in technological advances happening across the GCC, according to Sleem. An event on a scale as large as Project Qatar requires vast preparation and an experienced task force. “We start allocating the exhibition spaces for next year’s exhibition during the current exhibition. It is a one-year process that requires a large and a very experienced team,” he explains. “We naturally invest a lot in marketing and communication, which is one of the backbones and support systems of the show.” To overcome their logistical challenges, they have an operational and technical support team in place. Project Qatar 2014 will take place from 12 May to 15 May at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). For more information visit www.projectqatar.com.
Project Qatar 2014 will feature two annual concurrent exhibitions (12–15 May)
Types of construction projects in Qatar Type of Projects
Number of Projects
Sum of Projects values (USD mn)
Infrastructure Health Leisure and Recreation Commercial Residential Oil & Gas Education Heritage & Culture Hospitality Commercial/Residential Government GrandTotal
40 14 10 10 9 7 7 6 5 1 1 110
2,555 173 179 608 1,246 3,314 84 347 3,664 1,500 4 13,673
Qatar Stone-Tech 2014 is the 3rd International Stone and Stone Technology show. Qatar has the need for new and innovative solutions with the size and scope of hundreds of tertiary developments popping up to support the infrastructure boom. Heavy Max 2014, the 11th International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery, is the leading international exhibition for construction equipment, plant, machinery and vehicles. It is a natural complementary event bringing the latest in technological advances and innovative solutions to the construction sites.
Source: Project Qatar
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