The International Furniture and Design Exhibition and Awards (INFDEX) 2009, Qatar’s biggest ever interior design and furniture exhibition, conference and awards, opened bringing along new and revolutionary contemporary furniture and interior designs. The Minister of State for International Cooperation and Acting Business and Trade Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah inaugurated the four-day exhibition under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani. Talking to the media after touring the the expo, Al Attiyah asserted the keenness of the Business and Trade Ministry to protect the consumer, noting to the supply and demand policy that markets conduct. He stressed the need to encourage consumers and enhance the local market through the competitive prices and the significant role of the dealers. He expressed hope to see more furniture and design companies operating in Qatar, since the market is becoming larger and much promising. This year, the INFDEX is gathering some 100 local and global companies, who will display the latest fashion in the modern furniture and designs world. The exhibition, covering 10,000sqm of the Doha Exhibition Centre, is expected to receive more than 20,000 visitors. Over 3,000 new design ideas are be on display for the attention of elite shoppers including bathrooms, furniture, bedrooms, office furniture, flooring and wall coverings, kitchens, lighting, textiles, and thousands of fashionable accessories. Demonstrating how Qatar is now a magnet for European and regional design brands, INFDEX 2009 features global brands such as Zara Home, Singways, TEKA and Ligne Roset. Qatar’s first Italian design conference — “Product and Project Quality: the Italian furniture Industry Meets the Gulf Professional”, organised by the Italian Federation of Wood and Furniture (Federlegno Arredo) in association with INFDEX organiser Qatar Expo, was also opened yesterday. The conference, opened by the Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy Federico Ciattaglia, attracted executives, designers and manufacturers from across the GCC interior design and furniture industries.Roberto Snaidero, former President and Head of International Relations for FederlegnoArredo, and some legendary Italian “Archistars” like architect, author and TV personality Matteo Nunziati — and designer Denis Santachiara addressed the conference. “Italy is universally respected for the quality of its style, design, and creativity. Design schools Accademia Italiana, designers such as the Castiglioni Brothers and Gae Aulenti, and architects Matteo Nunziati and Gio Ponti are just a small selection of the countless names to come from the conveyor belt of outstanding Italian design talent in recent times,” said Karim Zarka, CEO of Qatar Expo Event Management. “Now is the perfect time for Italian design to further extend its influence in the GCC,” says Roberto Snaidero. “There is tremendous creativity waiting to be unleashed in Qatar, and throughout the region. We want to make the dreams of these new Arab designers a reality. We want to inspire them with our deep traditions of design excellence. It is an exciting time for all of us.” In addition to leading Italian designers, the very best Qatari and regional design talent represented as Qatari Diar designer Rasha Salman, Lebanese design guru Aziz Rebeiz, and Barwa Media Art Director Amal Al Ameen brought an Arabic perspective to the one-day conference. Apart from this, the Global Art Conference and a Croatian Design Conference will also be held. For the second year in succession, INFDEX 2009 hosts an international competition to discover the region’s best young design talent. The INFDEX 2009 Best Young Designer Award – sponsored by Qatari Diar – has attracted a distinguished panel of international judges to present the coveted award to one of the 25 deserving entries. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=October2009&file=Local_News2009102203032.xml

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