300 companies to take part in Arbil construction fair next week

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: Arbil has completed its preparations to host the third international fair for construction materials (Project Iraq), with the participation of 300 companies from 22 countries, Kurdistan’s housing minister said on Wednesday. “Arbil will host Iraq’s major construction sector trade fair later this month as the country’s demand for private sector housing and infrastructure continues to grow,” Kamran Ahmad Abdullah said at a press conference in Sheraton on central Arbil. The third Project Iraq trade fair will bring together some 300 exhibiting companies from all over the world on 27 – 30 September and is expected to attract 50,000 professional visitors, including project owners, engineers, contractors, traders and officials. “With some 25 billion (US) dollars in housing projects, 8 billion in transportation and 5.5 billion in water and sewage, the Iraqi government is focusing primarily on reconstruction and rehabilitation. Several new cement plants are being either revamped or erected to satisfy a growing need and major international players are now present. Iraq consumes around 15 million tons of cement yearly with the Iraqi ministry being the largest consumer”, Fady Jresani, General Manager of the exhibition’s organiser IFP Iraq, said. “We have decided to dedicate a standalone show because of the rising need for construction solutions”. SH (S) 1