Third construction fair to open in Erbil as housing and infrastructure demand grows

Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq  – Erbil 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.

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.

Mr Fady Darwish, General Manager of the exhibition’s organiser IFP Iraq, said, “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”. He added, “We have decided to dedicate a standalone show because of the rising need for construction solutions.”

The Kurdistan Regional Government has already attracted both national and foreign investors to build housing and commercial property and industrial facilities in the region, thanks to its very investor-friendly and open investment law, and more construction is needed. The Iraqi government has decided to build 1 million new housing units as part of its 2010-2014 development plan, and estimates that 85% of home building will be carried out by the private sector and foreign investments.

Project Iraq 2010 is held with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Construction and Housing. Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, said,"The KRG is pleased to host this event, which not only promotes the development of the Kurdistan Region but also contributes substantively to the reconstruction of all Iraq. The fair is an opportunity for the private sector to engage with the public sector through the provision of know-how and technology." He added,

"The KRG is committed to its open door policy and we welcome the international participants to consider this an entry point to the Iraqi construction market. I appreciate the efforts of the organizers - citizens and businesses throughout Iraq will benefit from such events."

Sixth International Trade Fair in Kurdistan

Erbil to host sixth international trade fair in October 

Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq  – This year the Kurdistan Region will once again host several major trade shows and exhibitions, providing excellent opportunities for international companies to meet companies and decision makers from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Kurdistan’s three main cities of Erbil, Suleimaniah and Dohuk are well established commercial centres and offer a secure and stable gateway to doing business with all of Iraq. Every year since 2005, Erbil the Kurdistan Region’s capital, and Suleimaniah, a major province of over 1.5 million people, have hosted trade fairs that help to introduce new products and services to a market with great needs and opportunities. Duhok, a thriving trading city, will also host a trade show this year. Visitors and exhibitors will see for themselves why Duhok, with its excellent location near the Turkish border, is Iraq’s door to the West.

Several sector-specific fairs are also planned for this year, including the 5th international book fair, an Italian expo, and fairs for cosmetics, the hotel industry and municipalities. Please see below for trade fair details and websites.

Erbil 5th International Book Fair
2 - 11 April 2010
Website: Erbil International Book Fair

4th Iranian Industries Fair
11 - 15 May 2010

4th ItalianExpo for Industries and Technologies
12 - 15 June 2010
Website: www.italianexpo.it

Erbil Cosmetics Fair
27 - 30 June 2010

2nd Erbil Trade Solo Exhibition for Construction and Municipalities 2010 & Erbil Stone
12 – 15 July 2010
Website: www.pyramidsfair.com

DBX Duhok Internatianal Fair
1 – 4 August 2010
Website: www.dbxkurdistan.com

3rd Project Iraq Construction Fair
27 - 30 September 2010
Website: www.ifpiraq.com and Project Iraq 2010
In Iraq there is a focus on reconstruction with the participation of foreign investments and the private sector. The Project Iraq exhibition is the showcase for those who can supply Iraq in the high-priority areas of construction and construction technology, housing, building materials, electricity and transport infrastructure.

6th Erbil International Trade Fair
18 - 21 October 2010
Website: www.ifpiraq.com and Erbil International Fair 2010
Over the past few years, Iraq has attracted massive interest from the international business community in the secure and stable region of Kurdistan now dubbed as “The Other Iraq”. Erbil is the capital and seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It serves as the Northern Gateway to Iraq and is the epicentre of a region offering all the advantages that matter in the era of globalisation. The KRG investment law, passed in July 2006, is one of the friendliest to foreign investors looking for lucrative business ventures. Some benefits of this law include entitlement to buy and own land for investment purposes, 10 year non-custom tax breaks, ownership of all the capital of any project, allocation of free or reduced price land for investment projects, and repatriation of profits in full.

The Iraqi government has undertaken a massive 70 billion-dollar plan to invest in key sectors. This opens up a great range of opportunities for international companies, including small to medium enterprises.

Erbil International Fair is a platform to network with decision-makers from across Iraq. It features exhibitors from various sectors, all of them eager to do business in Kurdistan and Iraq. It will be the ideal meeting point to network and explore new business opportunities with key decisions makers, investors, distributors, agents, traders and government officials.

5th DBX Suleimaniah International Expo
11 – 14 November 2010
Website: www.dbxkurdistan.com
Suleimaniah International Trade Show is in its fifth year and growing fast, last year over 400 companies participated as exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors attended the event.

Hotel Supplies and Equipment Fair
23 - 26 November 2010

Iraq Medicare Fair
6 - 9 December 2010
Website: www.ifpiraq.com and Iraq Medicare 2010
Perhaps the most pressing of all the needs of Iraq today is the rehabilitation of hospitals and the establishment of regular and professional healthcare. The modernization of the healthcare sector is a top priority for the Iraqi government, which budgeted 4 billion dollars for the sector in 2009.

The exhibition and conference will be organised at a time when the Iraqi government is planning to overhaul its healthcare sector. Erbil has taken the centre stage and is now considered the Northern Gateway to Iraq, and is the perfect choice for an exhibition and conference targeting the whole Iraqi Market.

3rd Iraq Agro-Food Fair
6 - 9 December 2010
Website: Iraq Agro-Food Fair 2010
Iraq, once considered the breadbasket of the Middle East, currently relies heavily on imports which constitute 80% of basic food estimated at almost 1.4 billion dollars per year. Agriculture is Iraq’s second largest GDP contributor at almost 11%, and employs 30% of Iraqi people. Iraq imports nearly 80% of basic food at almost 1.4 billion dollars per year.

Massive investment in Kurdistan’s and Iraq’s agricultural sectors is underway.
The Iraqi cabinet has allocated 17 billion dollars to support agriculture all across Iraq. In addition, the KRG’s Ministry of Agriculture 2009 annual budget was 0.8 billion dollars, and a five-year Strategic Investment Plan was set out aiming to rehabilitate the agriculture sector in Kurdistan and provide food self-sufficiency.

Kurdistan’s agriculture sector needs modernization, expansion and international expertise to help farmers boost local food production. The KRG Ministry of Agriculture identified the need for foreign investment in many areas, such as olive oil, dairy, tomato past, sunflower and potato production, greenhouses, machinery, cold storage, packaging and soil dams and ponds.

Construction Fair
27 - 30 December 2010

Erbil International Fair Ground
The venue for Erbil's fairs, located inside the green and welcoming Sami Abdul Rahman park. See www.erbilfair.com