Project Qatar 2014, the 11th international construction, technology and building materials exhibition, proved a resounding success with 2,100 exhibitors showcasing their ware.

The exhibition held last month (May 12 to 14) at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) showcased innovative products and solutions, with international and local companies sealing lucrative business deals and partnerships.

Twenty-four international pavilions and exhibitors from 47 countries participated in the event that was held on 41,500 sq m of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.

The 2014 edition was held concurrently with Qatar Stone-Tech, the third international stone and stone technology show and Heavy Max, the 11th international exhibition for heavy machinery. Additionally, it hosted the Project Qatar conference series organised by Advanced Conferences and Meetings (ACM) that included LightingTech Qatar and HVACTech Qatar.

A number of high-profile deals were signed during the event, some of which will be disclosed in the coming months, said IFP Qatar, the organiser.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, inaugurates the show as dignitaries and officials look on.

Among them was an agreement signed by Decorator, a Qatar interior design company specialising in marble, with entrepreneur and Lekhwiya SC footballer Hussain Ali Shehab to design and fit a new beauty and treatment clinic specialising in hair transplants and other beauty treatments including Turkish solutions, in the Al Markhiya area, in Doha. 

Rawad Sleem, project manager of Project Qatar, said: “Due to the size and scope of infrastructure projects in Qatar, entrepreneurs and companies of the highest calibre were featured here at Project Qatar 2014 and the demand for this year’s attendance surpassed our expectations.”

A number of other successful business partnerships between local and international companies were announced during the event.  Two exclusive joint ventures were signed between United International Company (UIC), one of the leading companies in Qatar specialising in the distribution and sale of sanitary ware, fittings, timber, pipes and pumps, and Pilosio, an Italian technology leader in the field of construction and maintenance equipment.

UIC also announced another exclusive partnership deal with Revigres, a Portuguese ceramics company specialising in the production of coatings and ceramic floors. UIC will be the exclusive distributor in Qatar for Revigres’ premier ceramic products and associated services.

Shehab after signing the agreement with Decorator.

International companies, which are already active on the Qatari market, chose to be at Project Qatar as the tourism and hospitality sector geared up to meet the demands of 2022 Fifa World Cup.

While many companies exhibited at Project Qatar 2014 to build relationships and look for local representatives and distributors, others showcased their capabilities to ensure that their products and services are recognised by the end-user in a global environment.

Al Hamad Automobiles, an exclusive agent of JAC trucks in Qatar, is one such company which awarded Midmac Contracting, one of the largest Qatari contracting organisations, a new JAC dumptruck in recognition of its professional and dedicated services. Midmac is Qatar’s largest fleet owner of JAC trucks which have reached a record one million kilometres without any technical fault.

The 2015 edition of Project Qatar will be held from May 4 to 7.