RAK Ceramics, a leading ceramic tiles and bathware manufacturing firm based in the UAE, is set to showcase its premium collection of products at the upcoming 'Project Lebanon' expo.

A $1 billion global conglomerate in the ceramic industry, RAK Ceramics offers a product portfolio comprising over 8,000 designs in ceramic tiles, Gres Porcellanato, and several models in bathware.

Project Lebanon is a major construction and environmental technology trade exhibition for Lebanon and the Middle East region which runs from May 31 to June 3 at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Centre.

RAK Ceramics said it will be exhibiting its products at a specially-designed 200 sq m stand joined by its sister companies Kludirak, Elegance Ceramics and Duscholux.

The products to be showcased include Nanopix, Stoneart, Interlocking, Topclass, Orion collection, Wallpaper, Endless, Lounge series, Metallic collection and several other exclusive collections, said the Ras Al Khaimah-based company in a statement.

Project Lebanon is expected to gather more than 600 companies from 25 countries, including leading international real estate, engineering and construction firms, as well as suppliers, contractors and traders from Lebanon, Middle East, Europe and Asia, creating a highly conducive environment for networking and generating new business leads.

Dr Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Ceramics, said: 'Lebanon has emerged as one of the region's most lucrative markets for our wide array of products and value-added services because of the significant construction and real estate growth being witnessed in the country.'

'High-profile trade exhibitions such as Project Lebanon therefore serve as key components of our ongoing expansion drive in the Lebanese market,' he stated.

Project Lebanon is held every year to promote the construction trade and building industry in Lebanon and across the Middle East.

This year's 16th edition of Project Lebanon will feature the best in construction technology, building materials, equipment, and environmental technology.

'This event particularly creates a dedicated sales and business networking platform, expediting our efforts to connect with key personalities and potential business partners across Lebanon and in other important regional markets,' he added.

According to him, construction activity in Lebanon continues to maintain a positive record of upward growth in 2011 with the domestic real estate market still outperforming regional markets that are still recovering from the global financial crisis.

The Bank Audi report shows that construction permits in the country went up by 15 per cent in the first two months of 2011.

Likewise, figures released by the Order of Engineers in Beirut and Tripoli reveal that the area of newly issued construction permits reached 2,047,464 sq m in the first two months of this year, up by 15 per cent compared to the same period last year.-TradeArabia News Service