4/28/2006

Preparations are underway to launch the 12th edition of Project Lebanon from 6 - 10 June 2006

Project Lebanon 2006, the 12th International Exhibition for Construction Technology, Building Materials, Equipment and Environmental Technology in the Middle East will be held at Beirut International Exhibition center (BIEL).
Project Lebanon is the leading construction fair in the Middle East and is organized by IFP Lebanon, a member of the IFP Group.

Project Lebanon 2006 is shaping up to be a remarkable success, with high quality regional international participation reflecting the positive developments forecasted for the Lebanese and regional construction sector.
Since its inception in 1995, Project Lebanon has been gaining popularity as the meeting place and market maker for international, regional and domestic firms involved in the construction industry. Project Lebanon has successfully crossed all borders to embrace the whole region by reassessing the role of Lebanon as the gateway to the broader markets of the Middle East.

Project Lebanon 2006 is organized in a time when the Lebanese economy is experiencing a resurgence in its construction sector, and when the regional economy is witnessing unprecedented growth. It will showcase the latest in building materials and construction technology by hundreds of international and local companies from Italy, Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Belgium, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon and many more. From the largest pieces of equipment to the tiniest of tools, from ceramics to solar panels, from stone to sophisticated woodworking machines, the products on display will be the most extensive to be seen anywhere.

Residential towers, shopping malls, hotels, leisure complexes, and many other projects have all brought new investment to Lebanon. Solidere, the Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut Central District, attracts a large share of the Arab investments. Solidere shares recently shot up to $22 from $4 a year ago a reflection of the rapid recovery Lebanon has experienced. Solidere has recorded a $108.5m in 2005 over 200% more than 2004.

In addition to 30 ongoing projects worth in excess of $1 billion including the Marina Tower, Platinum Tower, Four Seasons Hotel, Berytus Park commercial center, Solidere’s CEO Nasser Shammaa announced that two real estate projects worth $1.5 billion will be launched in the next few months in the capital’s prime location. Beirut Gate is one of two projects. The Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) announced the launch of the second phase of the $600 million Beirut Gate project, the downtown’s largest development project. Beirut Gate comprises seven plots on 229,871 square feet and a built-up area of almost 1.9m square feet overlooking the landmark Martyrs Square at the heart of downtown Beirut. The project will be a mixed-use commercial and residential area.

On the other hand, the CDR (Council for Development and Reconstruction) has a $3.6 billion multi-year program currently underway. The total value of projects to complete planned work on the roads and highways sector in Lebanon is estimated at another $1 billion.

In its 11th year, the UFI (International Association of the Exhibition Industry) certified Project Lebanon has again established itself as the leading construction fair in the Middle East.

Held at Beirut International Exhibition center (BIEL), from 6-10 September 2005, Project Lebanon 2005 created a great opportunity for visitors to meet with companies and organizations from 18 different nations. It attracted more than 18,752 trade visitors from many countries.

The underlying secret of this success was the extensive promotional efforts of the organizers, IFP, in showing the important role that Lebanon plays as the Western Gateway to the Middle East and a catalyst for traders who wish to enter this lucrative market.

Project Lebanon 2006 continues in this tradition, and with the positive momentum in Lebanon and the region, it will provide the ideal forum for the major suppliers and their customers to interact and do business and enjoy the many pleasures Beirut and Lebanon have to offer.

This is great news for Beirut, it is building so much in such a low amount of time. Proud of it :)

about the highways part. near doura they have changed the traffic bcz they have started construction on a new highway...also near fanar they are doing new highways

Project Lebanon 2006
June 06 - June 10


The 12th International Trade Exhibition For Construction Technology, Building Materials, Equipment for the Middle East


Multi-billion US$ rebuilding projects underway

Rebuilding projects include major new highways, expanding electrical networks, water and sewer infrastructure, expansion of communications networks, as well as massive urban developments all over the Near East Region. Trade buyers from throughout the region will once again visit the show to secure new agency agreements and source their needs.

Project Lebanon series, offer unrivaled opportunities

Over the last twelve years, the Project Lebanon series of exhibitions have set regional records of international participation and attendance, and this trend is set to continue. Project Lebanon 2006 will be held at the prestigious BIEL. Visitors will include the region’s top traders, contractors, engineers, architects, project owners, interior designers, and government officials. Project Lebanon 2006 is set to be the largest gathering of its kind for the building sector professionals, anywhere in the Middle East. The show offers suppliers unrivaled opportunities to expand their business at the centre of one of the world’s largest rebuilding projects.

Private sector projects booming, hospitality sector in rapid expansion

In addition to planned expenditures by the public sector, the private sector is in the midst of a multi-billion US$ boom of its own, in Lebanon and throughout the region. Demographics are behind the housing boom, while government investment incentives and high growth in tourism are driving growth in the hospitality sector. Almost every leading international hotel chain is refurbishing or building new properties.

Here is a pdf of the brochure if anyone is interested:

http://www.ifpexpo.com/show_brochures/PL06Brochure.pdf

Thanks Beirut
I happy that they are doing things to Lebanon Infracsture also insted of buliding Fancy new bulidings

yeah this will be great!!

sure will b

in the last 2 years as the Power Hours inporved or is it still the same

that sounds like a good exhibition. i cant wait till they improve on the highways here:)

Project Lebanon this year is one of the most impressive to date

The Daily Star
6/8/2006


Lebanese and Arab companies are investing billions of dollars in the real estate sector in Beirut and other areas, reflecting greater confidence in the country despite the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri in February 2005.

Participants in a major construction and contracting exhibition all agreed that Lebanon was a good place to make investments although the country was relatively small in size.

Held under the patronage of Premier Fouad Siniora, the 12th edition of Project Lebanon was inaugurated by Mohammad al-Sadafi Tuesday at Biel. It is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors this year.

Certified by the UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), Project Lebanon has become the annual rendezvous for hundreds of local, regional and International firms to meet and do business with thousands of industry professionals from Lebanon and the region.

“Seventy percent of the participants are Lebanese,” explained Camille Geha, the Resident manager of IFP Lebanon. “The other 30 percent are from all over the world. There are country pavilions from Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Italy and Turkey.” There are also exhibitors from the UAE, Greece, Poland, Holland, Luxembourg, India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt. Lebanon is hosting a record participation of its own at Project Lebanon 2006, with hundreds of Lebanese manufacturers and traders presenting new technologies and the latest in building products and equipment.

The fair this year is one of the most impressive to date. “The obvious importance of the fair is in line with all the building projects that are currently happening in Lebanon” said Geha. “$1 billion worth of projects are being executed in Beirut alone - projects such as hotels, shopping malls, infrastructure. In the whole of Lebanon $5 billion worth of projects are being executed now. Furthermore the council of development has announced that over the next 10 years $11 billion has been assigned to future projects.”
“Last year was catastrophic because of the situation” said De-Concrete, one of the exhibitors. “The fair is usually good for business though. Lebanon is a small country but this is a huge exhibition which has a very good reputation in construction circles. The construction business is definitely better now after last year.”

Another exhibitor agreed, adding that he believed the construction business was still being affected. “Lots of Arabs from the Gulf are coming to Lebanon and having villas built. So there are projects on the one hand but then on the other hand there’s also a reluctance to invest because of the political situation. Which is a pity.”

“Last year we had to delay the project by three months” said Geha. “This year participation is much higher - about 20 percent higher - and we gained a lot of exhibitors on a last-minute basis after the announcement that many projects had been signed three months ago.”

“You only have to drive through Downtown and look at the sheer amount of cranes. You can see how much growth there is in construction. In fact that’s why we chose the crane to be the logo for Project Lebanon 2006,” he added.
However, there is still much to be developed, with high hopes for Lebanon’s coast.

“A law was recently voted to fix all the problems with illegal construction on the seafront,” said Geha. “During the war people constructed properties on the beach without proper licenses. Now the law enables them to pay taxes in order for them to continue living there. People were afraid for a long time but we hope this will encourage a lot of seafront development.”

With over 220 kilometers of coastline there is a lot of scope for this and Lebanon can certainly expect a lot of projects to be launched.
Evidence suggests that the construction industry will continue to flourish. “There is a major future in construction” said Geha. “People need to drive in Beirut and I think this needs work on bridges, roads and infrastructure in general. The big boom will continue in construction.”