In yet another sign of Qatar’s growing economic significance, global manufacturing giant China has the largest-ever presence at the Project Qatar 2009.
Around 60 Chinese companies, mostly from the southeastern province of Fujian have occupied what amounts to a 740sq m zone at the New Doha International Exhibition Centre.
Speaking to Gulf Times, the Chinese commercial attaché in Qatar Yao Xiao Zhao said: “It is our largest pavilion yet at the show and fourth-time we are participating”.
Project Qatar 2009 is the sixth edition of the annual construction industry exhibition.
“Most of the Chinese companies we have deal in stone; marbles, tiles, and machinery related to stone-cutting. Within one hour of the opening, deals with local companies were cemented,” Zhao said. “Chinese companies, overall, are also putting emphasis in improving the quality of their products,” the official maintained.
Fujian province, whose local government backed companies for Qatar’s show, supplies almost 50% of China’s total stone market. Monica Zhang of Shunfa Marble that deals in marble blocks and polished slabs said “the opportunities in Qatar remain tremendous.”
“The new skyscrapers that are coming up are going to need marble flooring. This is something that we want to explore over the next few days,” Zhang said.
Another official, of Liven.stone said “it being the first day, the turn out would be slow.”
“Starting tomorrow however, we expect visitors and local contractors. We will also have our representatives researching the local market,” she said.
http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=287368&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
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