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.