ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The 16th International Exhibition for Construction, Electricity and Energy concluded in Erbil on Sunday, resulting in hundreds of contracts and memoranda of understanding.
The four-day exhibition, held from August 27 to 30, attracted nearly 20,000 visitors and featured companies from the construction, electricity and energy sectors, according to figures obtained by Rudaw.
Despite economic and security challenges in the region, participants described the event as a successful opportunity to establish business ties and secure new contracts.
"It was truly a successful exhibition; a large number of people visited us. All kinds of companies, whether Chinese, Iranian, or those in related fields, visited our booth," Pishtiwan Jalal, sales and production manager at a sandwich panel manufacturing company based in Kalar, which participated in the exhibition for the first time, told Rudaw's Dilnya Rahman.
Solar energy was among the sectors that attracted significant interest from both exhibitors and visitors.
Mushtaq Qadir, the administrative director of one participating company, said 982 companies and individuals visited its booth. He said 65 percent of visitors came from southern Iraq, while 15 percent were from outside the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Omar Ali, sales manager at another participating company, said the exhibition also attracted visitors from the Kurdish region in Iran, known as Rojhelat.
"Many Iranian Kurds visited, which was great for us. There was also a very positive reception locally within the Kurdistan Region, and we signed seven solid contracts," he said.
Mohammed Shukri, chairman of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Board of Investment, said the board was ready to provide the necessary support and facilities to companies seeking to invest in the Kurdistan Region.
Foreign companies also expressed satisfaction with their participation.
Organizers said the exhibition's 450 participating companies came from 20 countries, underscoring Erbil's role as a venue for regional business and investment despite continuing economic and security challenges.
