(MENAFN - Arab News) Twenty Saudi companies will take part in the Project Qatar 2012, the 9th International Construction, Building, Environmental Technology and Materials Exhibition, which will be held in Doha from April 30-May 3, Askar Alharithi, general manager-public relations, at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) told a press conference yesterday.
Pierre Prunis, commercial counselor at the Austrian Embassy, and Jean-Jacques Manigart, trade commissioner at the Belgium Embassy were also present to enlighten on the importance of the event in the region.
The show, which drew more than 43,000 trade visitors last year, is expected to attract a larger crowd this time due to an increase in the number of exhibitors.
Around 2,000 exhibitors representing 47 countries are participating, 26 of them under their respective national banners.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, France, Italy, Egypt and Kuwait are among those with their pavilions.
The Saudi pavilion comprising 20 prominent companies, is being arranged by the Riyadh Exhibitions Co. (REC). Over 45,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair from the whole region, with major visitor turnout expected from the Kingdom.
Two other major shows will run concurrently with Project Qatar 2012: Qatar Stone Tech 2012 - the International Stone and Stone Technology Show held in association with Verona Fiere and Confindustria Marmomacchine Association, and Heavy Max 2012 - the International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery and Construction Equipment and Plants.
Prunis said Qatar was one of Austria's most prosperous trading partners in the Middle East with a trade volume of about 100 million euros - 94 million euro exports to Qatar and around 6 million euro imports from Qatar.
Bagart said his country would display its products and services through a national pavilion with more than 15 companies from Belgium.
Describing the show as the second largest construction event during his presentation, Fadi Kaddoura, group vice president of the IFP Group, organizer of the event, said Qatar had become a magnet for international investors due to the availability of attractive investment opportunities in the country.
Qatar's successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 has transformed the emirate into a promised land. "In fact, Qatar has paved the way for endless development opportunities, particularly in the construction, energy and hospitality sectors," he said, adding that the country is on a fast-track course to evolve in various fields, planning 100 billion worth of development projects over the next four years.
Qatar's construction industry is given a big boost by 125 billion worth of construction and energy projects being planned for the coming six years.
"Among the major developments in the pipeline include projects for a 7 billion international airport, a 5.5 billion deepwater seaport, and 20 billion for new roads and highways, while constructing 12 eco-friendly stadiums has been estimated to cost over 32 billion with the first stadium ready by 2015," Kaddoura said.
By MD RASOOLDEEN
