Largest international trade event brings together 300 firms from 30 countries

Khalid Tawalbeh Doha Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the 18th edition of Project Qatar and the 7th edi...

Khalid Tawalbeh DohaMinister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the 18th edition of Project Qatar and the 7th edition of Hospitality Qatar 2022 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) on Tuesday.The high-profile inauguration of the four-day event was attended by Qatari Diar CEO Eng. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah and Manateq CEO Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, among others.This year, the International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition (Project Qatar) and the International Hospitality and HORECA Exhibition (Hospitality Qatar) have been combined into a “One Show, Multiple Opportunities” event featuring more than 300 companies from 30 countries.The significance of this year’s edition comes from the fact that they are the last and the largest international trade events hosted by Doha ahead of the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. A large group of public figures and official delegations — including those from Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatari Diar, Manateq and Milaha — accompanied the minister during the opening tour.The ceremony also witnessed the presence of more than 30 ambassadors representing their participating countries and over 16 official trade delegations from around the world, most important of which is the delegation of the National Real Estate Committee in the Federation of Saudi Chambers - one of the major private sector delegations visiting Qatar since restoring relations between the two countries.The Minister of Commerce and Industry stressed the importance of Project Qatar and Hospitality Qatar 2022 in shedding light on the growth witnessed by major development projects being implemented as part of Qatar’s national vision QNV 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.Commenting on the spectacle at DECC, Haidar Mshaimesh, General Manager of IFP Qatar, expressed gratitude to the leaders of the associated sectors and markets in Qatar and the world for showing confidence in the company and the exhibitions it organizes. “Since their inception several years ago, Project Qatar and Hospitality Qatar have played an important role in contributing to the overhauling of Qatar’s construction, infrastructure, and hospitality sectors to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Today, as the world waits for this mega event draws near, the two exhibitions set the stage for the business community to meet and network. This high-level crowd, we welcomed at today’s opening ceremony, is a clear testament to the value of the company’s exhibitions and its position.” Investment Holding Group, which has completed a landmark acquisition of Elegancia Group forming one of the largest conglomerates in Qatar’s National Stock Exchange have changed its brand identity and brand name to Estithmar Holding. The group chose the event as a platform for their new name and identity reveal, further validating the confidence shown by the business community in the company’s exhibitions. Moreover, Qatari Diar, the leading real estate development company established under the Qatar Investment Authority, which is implementing and delivering more than 60 projects in over 24 countries across five continents around the world with investments worth more than $35 billion, opted to participate in Project Qatar as the Property Development Sponsor for the first time ever. The company, taking advantage of the occasion, introduced its projects and investment opportunities. Its pavilion was the focus of the delegation of the National Real Estate Committee in the Federation of Saudi Chambers, which devoted a large part of its visit to view the projects of the company at the exhibition and through a site visit to the company’s projects in the city of Lusail. Doha has long been a leading destination for Gulf real estate investment. Hence, it is expected that this visit will restore momentum for Saudi investment in the Qatari real estate market.The first day of the event also saw the opening of the three-day conference, ‘MEGA Projects Qatar Conference 2022’, where the Public Works Authority highlighted some of the major strategic projects planned for the coming years. It also saw the participation of Italian Ambassador HE Alessandro Prunas, who spoke of the Italian contribution to major projects in Qatar. The second session featured presentations by the most prominent companies sponsoring the exhibition on their projects and programs, whether related to the upcoming World Cup or beyond. Most notably are the Qatari Diar, Manateq, Milaha, Suhail Industrial Holding Group, and others.On June 7, Certified Conference Sessions and Trainings will be held to support the continuous development of professionals, who will benefit from free learning opportunities. Many workshops are expected over the next two days on different topics such as Business Management in a post COVID world, Achieving Excellence in Asset Management Through Project Portfolio, SMART CITY QATAR – A Look into the Future of Smart Cities, and others.Project Qatar is the country’s first and longest running business exhibition specializing in construction, building, and other related industries. The exhibition offers access to Qatar’s thriving construction market as well as the possibility of creating new business opportunities with companies of all sizes. Hospitality Qatar in turn is the only exhibition in Qatar dedicated for hotels, restaurants, and cafes and the most prominent and prestigious exhibition for local, regional, and international companies working in the tourism and hospitality sector. This event provides a distinctive opportunity for such companies to promote their brand and attract more publicity, marketing, and eventually business opportunities. Hospitality Qatar promotes the growth of the tourism and travel sector and is an ideal platform to help all participants from producers, suppliers, and experts move towards a new era in the sector’s development.The event attracts over 300 exhibiting companies - including 180 international companies from 30 different countries, seven of which will participate through official national pavilions, along with 120 Qatari companies from major government and semi-governmental agencies and prominent private sector entities. The Public Works Authority “Ashghal” is sponsoring and supporting the exhibition as a Strategic Partner. Qatar Chamber is the Business Community Partner, Qatar Tourism is sponsoring the hosted buyers program, Manateq is the Economic Partner, Qatari Diar is the Property Development Sponsor, Investment Holding Group is a Diamond Sponsor, Suhail Industrial Holding Group is the Industrial Partner, Al Sraiya Holding Group is a Platinum Sponsor, Metito is a Gold Sponsor, Milaha and QTerminals are Silver Sponsors, and Vodafone is the Innovation Partner.