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| Construmat proposes to tackle the sector situation Construmat 2009, the leading construction fair held on April 20-25 in Barcelona, Spain, has proved to be an important platform for reflection and proposals for revitalising the sector and overcoming the crisis. An audience of 153,000 trade visitors, which exceeded initial expectations in such a complex economic climate, has contributed to reasserting its undeniable leadership as a benchmark show for Spanish construction and one of the most important in Europe. Fira de Barcelona's International Construction Show has provided a major showcase for new technical products but, beyond this important dimension, the well-attended side events programme set out the guidelines to be followed by the sector and outlined new business opportunities. Highlights include the debates about regulations on sound in application of the Technical Building Code in a session with the participation of the Minister of Housing, Beatriz Corredor -who also chaired the inauguration of the show- and on the responses from different Public Administrations about the crisis. Rehabilitation has been shown to be a real alternative for the construction sector, as well as the full development of sustainable building and the initiatives related to new ways of understanding housing and its materials. This is the case of the fifth Casa Barcelona project, one of the show's major attractions which presented a modular home that is social, innovative and sustainable, With the attendance of the European commissar for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, the need to extend standardisation certificates in construction processes to all member countries of the European Union has been discussed. Construmat has brought together 1,350 exhibitors from 31 countries in the six pavilions of the Gran Via exhibition centre. The organisation of various inbound trade missions from Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America has given the sector the opportunity to explore new markets. The Construmat Awards, won by the reform of Gran Via, the Plaza Europa and the Spain pavilion in Expo Zaragoza, National Parquet-Laying Contest and the National and International Brick-Laying Contest have completed the proposals at Construmat 2009. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |