Beirut - June 11, 2019: IFP (International Fairs and Promotions) hosted a press conference today to launch the 24th edition of Project Lebanon, at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, in the presence of dignitaries representing Italy, France, Czech Republic, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Bangladesh.
The speakers’ panel comprised H.E. Mr. Avedis Guidanian; Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Francesca Zadro; Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency, Mrs. Marie Maamari; Directrice Bureau Business France Liban, Dr. Mona Wahba; Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mr. Albert Aoun; Chairman of IFP Group.
Held under the patronage of the President of the Council of Ministers, His Excellency Mr. Saad Hariri, Project Lebanon; the International Trade Exhibition for Construction Materials and Equipment for Lebanon and the Middle East, will take place from 18 to 21 June 2019, at the Seaside Arena- Beirut New Waterfront.
Addressing the attendees, Mr. Albert Aoun, Chairman of IFP, said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to His Excellency for his continuous support. It is a true testament of Project Lebanon's role as a catalyst for Lebanon's construction industry. We are pleased to be welcoming this year 250 exhibitors from 20 countries who will be showcasing a broad range of products, equipment, and innovations, and helping mobilize Lebanon’s construction industry via trade with local stakeholders.”
“Through the highs and lows that our country has been through for over 20 years, Project Lebanon takes pride in being the exclusive international platform that plays a pivotal role in supporting the construction industry and promoting business opportunities for local and international players,” he added.
Mr. Aoun thanked exhibitors and partners for taking part in Project Lebanon 2019 and wished them a rewarding experience. He also invited industry specialists to visit the exhibition.
On his part, H.E. Guidanian asserted the connection between tourism and the exhibitions industry which is known as business tourism. He praised the role played by the exhibitions sector in Lebanon to encourage investments and stimulate the economy, stressing that the government will give this sector the attention it deserves.
He pointed out that we are at the doorstep of a promising summer with anticipation of dense tourist movement, especially from the Gulf, encouraged by the improvements at the airport that will ease traffic at the arrival and departure halls.
H.E Guidanian also thanked H.E. Hariri for his efforts to redevelop the economy and indicated that the budget approval will give the economy a great push.
Speaking to the audience, Mrs. Marie Maamari, Directrice Bureau Business France Liban, said:
“France is celebrating its 11th consecutive participation at Project Lebanon this year and our presence at this show bears witness to the interest shown in this event by French professionals in the construction, building material, finishing, and energy sectors.”
“Despite the economic situation in Lebanon, the French participation is faithfully present at this show; it expresses our companies' interest in strengthening their relations with their Lebanese counterparts in key areas such as engineering and construction,” she continued.
“As you know, France remains among Lebanon's leading trading partners with a trade volume amounting to €802 million in 2018. The number of French companies exporting to Lebanon is growing steadily and has reached 4700 in 2017, up 15% from 2007, which is significant,” she added.
On her part, Mrs. Francesca Zadro, Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency, said:
“The Italian participation confirms the strong interest in the Lebanese market and the opportunities that emerge from the development of the Capital Investment Program; the plan of investments in large infrastructure launched by the Lebanese Government for a value of over 20 billion dollars,”
“The Italian Pavilion companies cover a wide range of products and services: from bathroom furniture to procurement services; from scaffolding and prefabricated structures to spacers, shims, and waterstops; from metalworking machinery to PMV accessories and parts; from pipes and fittings for oil, gas and water to valves,” she continued.
“In 2018, Italy maintained its position as the third largest supplier to Lebanon and the second largest European country, with 1.6 billion dollars and a market share of 8%. Total Lebanese imports of building materials amount to 445 million dollars, of which 11% comes from Italy for a total of 48 million dollars,” she added.
In her speech, Dr. Mona Wahba; Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, said:
“We are very proud of Project Lebanon, as well as the Egyptian participation at this exhibition which we believe is the most important trade fair organized in Lebanon. The country has a strong services sector and companies that export to external markets. On the other hand, Egyptian companies are keen on participating at IFP Group’s specialized exhibitions, whether in the construction sector or others.”
“Egypt is taking part in Project Lebanon with a large national pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and showcasing numerous Egyptian companies specialized in construction, engineering, building materials, pipes, décor, and others. The diversity and wide scope of the exhibition have encouraged new Egyptian companies to participate this year”, she continued.
Project Lebanon is the premier business platform for the construction industry. It brings together leading local and international suppliers of building materials, equipment, and technologies, and paves the way for future partnerships. Each year, the exhibition attracts thousands of Engineers, Contractors, Project Owners and other industry professionals from Lebanon and the region to network, explore a wide spectrum of products, and negotiate deals.
This year, Project Lebanon brings back its sustainability conference EcOrient, from 19 to 20 June, under the theme: Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management. The conference provides an ideal knowledge-sharing platform that welcomes academics, researchers, engineers, and leading experts in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable water management and treatment, green buildings, and much more.
Moreover, Project Lebanon is introducing free specialized workshops over the course of 4 days in support of the development of construction, engineering, and energy professionals and students to stay ahead of the curve and acquire a competitive skill set that will contribute to developing Lebanon’s construction industry. The workshops cover a wide spectrum of topics allowing participants to gain valuable know-how from renowned experts in the fields of Architecture, Energy, Interior Design, HSE, and many more.
With just 1 week remaining till Project Lebanon’s opening, local and regional industry professionals can register their visit for free on www.projectlebanon.com to tap into numerous business opportunities and build international connections.
About IFP Group
IFP Group is one of the Middle East’s most accomplished event organizers with a rich experience of over 35 years and more than 500 international exhibitions with worldwide recognition. IFP Group organizes some of the region’s top trade fairs, designed to be ideal platforms for foreign and local companies doing business in the Middle East and Africa, and seeking exposure among top regional buyers and decision makers. For more information about IFP, visit www.ifpexpo.com
