By Raynald C Rivera

DOHA: Hundreds of companies from 37 countries will participate in the 13th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition (Project Qatar 2016) from May 9 to 12 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

For the first time Project Qatar will be held at the DECC’s five halls spanning 32000 sqm exhibition space and will feature 15 national pavilions. More than 35000 visitors are expected to attend the four-day event held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Among the countries represented at the show are Belgium Bulgaria Canada China Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Germany Greece India Italy Kuwait Korea Lebanon Malaysia Netherlands Oman Poland Portugal Romania Saudi Arabia Singapore Spain Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America.

“Project Qatar has established itself as one of the most prominent events in its category. During the last three years an average of more than 50 Indian companies has been participating in the exhibition. This has provided them an opportunity to interact and explore trading and investment opportunities not only with the Qatari companies but also with other international exhibitors present at the event” said Dinesh Udenia First Secretary and Commercial Representative at the Indian Embassy at the press conference yesterday.

Korean Ambassador Park Heung Kyeong said Korea has been participating at the expo for four years now and this year eight Korean companies are exhibiting high technology products.

“Currently Qatar has plenty of project opportunities particularly in preparation for World Cup 2022 which is the key motivation for Korean participants. I believe that the Korean participants are willing to meet the various demands arising from these infrastructure development projects and also ready to show their quality technologies of products” he said.

“I hope the Project Qatar 2016 will be a new gateway for Korean products to enter the Qatari market and support the magnificent projects in the State of Qatar” he said.

Organizers IFP Qatar in collaboration with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce is once again holding “Project Qatar Workshop Series” which comprise 11 workshops aimed at promoting the education and commercial aspects of the construction industry. The series will shine the spotlight on GSAS and HSE awareness product testing construction wastes sustainable smart cities energy efficiency and its dynamics among others. Project Qatar Business Intelligence Series comes back this year with six B2B conferences including two conferences same time as the show: the third annual LightingTech Qatar on May 9 and 10 and the second Future BIM Implementation Qatar on May 11 and 12.

The inaugural Smart Parking Qatar kicked off yesterday and continues today. Other conferences include the third Future Interiors Qatar (September 5 and 6) the third Future Landscape & Public Realm Qatar (October 24 and 25) and the third Future Drainage Networks Qatar (December 5 and 6). There will also be free site visit tours for international exhibitors to three mega construction sites in Qatar including the New Port Project Lusail City and The Mall of Qatar.

The 5th International Stone and Stone Technology Show (Qatar StoneTech 2016) and the 13th International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery (Heavy Max 20165) will run concurrently with the expo.

This year’s sponsors include Al Sraiya group- Integrity Sponsor Industrial Standards Gold and Silver Sponsors including QD-CPC ASTM Nehme Bitumode Qatar Art Glass Gulf Crafts – branding sponsor the Intercontinental Doha – The City – official hotel Airlink the official freight forwarder and Seib the official insurance company.

The Peninsula