By Mohammad Shoeb

DOHA: Over 90 deals are expected to be signed at the second edition of the upcoming ‘International Exhibition for Wall and Floor Covering Technologies & Materials’ Covertech 2016 which would be about 35 percent higher compared to the deals inked during the first edition of the event.

Dr Moyasser Saddiq Chairman of ‘IBHAR FOR EXHIBITIONS & CONFERENCES’ (IEC) the organiser of the event told The Peninsula yesterday on the sidelines of a press conference held to announce the details of the event.

The deals mostly to be related to the production and supply of construction materials for the infrastructure industry are expected to be signed on the sidelines of the event to be held at Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) from March 23 to 26. “The first edition of the Expo which was also organised in support of GOIC was a big success” said Dr Saddiq adding “We witnessed the signing of some 72 deals of various sizes during the event. This year we are expecting about 90-95 similar deals to be inked during the event.”

He said that many companies after the previous year’s event signed agreements to set up factories in Qatar to supply their materials in Qatar and the region. ‘Qatar- Covertech’ is a unique international leading trade fair serving the wide spectrum for wall and floor covering technologies. It will grant a massive opportunity to the worldwide suppliers to explore new avenues for extending their business magnitude.

Saddiq also said that this year’s Expo will have more to offer to the visitors as over 70 companies (over 25 percent more than last year) from some 16 countries from around the world including the US Italy Spain Turkey China Tunisia Morocco Jordon India and the UAE are going to showcase their best products and latest technologies in an area of about 5000 square metres at DECC.

The four-day event is being organised in support of several big organisations including Gulf Organisation of Industrial Consulting (GOIC) Qatar Development Bank (QDB) Qatar Chamber Qatar Green Building Council and other prominent figures of Qatari businesses. The event will also run parallel business matching (B2B) meetings seminars and presentations on host of related topics including civil defence and green building technologies. A vast number of trade visitors including consultant engineers and decision makers from Qatar and GCC countries are expected to participate in the event.

It will also host the GCC-Ukraine Business Forum. Some 68 meetings of B2B matchmaking have been scheduled by GOIC. The programme enabled Italian exhibitors to discuss over 15 partnership agreements with GCC companies while 95 percent of them confirmed their intention to take part of the forthcoming programme.

Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Ageel Secretary General of GOIC said: “The organisation (GOIC) deploys relentless efforts to support the activities events and specialised exhibitions which will promote industrial investment and development in GCC countries. GOIC is keen to encourage the activities carried out by the private sector in the Gulf countries aimed at promoting the industrial sector and raise the level of industrial cooperation and coordination among the GCC countries.”

“In addition to that GOIC has been playing an increasing role with the private sector in GCC countries. Its work was also key to economic and social integration between the public and private sectors in the region” Al Ageel added.

The Peninsula