Over 900 companies in the construction industry from 20 countries are showcasing their products at the 'Project Qatar 2009' expo being held at the New Doha International Exhibition Centre.

Qatar prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, on Monday inaugurated the exhibition, which is billed as one of the largest of its kind in the region.

Sheikh Hamad said the exhibition was part of the initiatives being taken by Qatar to promote trade at a time when the world was experiencing an economic melt down.

The event has been by far the single largest exhibition held ever at the venue, said IFP Qatar, the event organisers.

The companies representing the construction technology, building materials, equipment and environment technology have their pavilions at the two venues, which was supplemented with the erection of an additional huge temporary but specially erected tent, they added.

Other than Qatar, companies from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Iran, Italy, Germany, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Korea, Spain and Turkey are taking part.

Participants have also come in from India, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, US, and Vietnam.

'A noticeable feature of the exhibition is that most participants have to offer something that they felt was “unique and exclusive. A number of them have brought technologies that are still not widely known in the region,' an IFP Qatar official said.

The massive participation by a large number of overseas firms has reaffirmed the regional leaders’ frequent proclamations on the economy’s vibrancy and buoyancy, he observed.

“The global slowdown is a reality but its effect on the region is minimal as is being repeatedly stressed by the regional leaders. Every overseas entrepreneur is looking at the Middle East with utmost seriousness even as most other regions recorded a drastic fall in growth, he added.

The exhibition, which runs till April 30, is open for visitors from 4 to 10pm.-TradeArabia News Service