Qatar seeks strategic partnership from Indian companies

NEW DELHI: The Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is looking forward to enter into strategic partnership with renowned Indian companies in the construction sector even as the country unveils a $15-billion infrastructure plan, spread over the next 10 years.

It plans to spend over $1 billion on construction and innovation ahead of the Asian Games, which will take place in 2006.

A nine-member CII construction mission was in Qatar last week to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the area of construction in general and with Ashghal in particular.

Zayed Mansoor Al Khayarin, managing director, Ashghal, invited Indian companies to participate in the infrastructure projects to contribute to the massive developmental initiative in Qatar.

The $15-billion infrastructure plan includes the $5-billion new Doha International Airport. A manmade island is being created off the Qatari coast close to Doha with $2.5 billion investment. A $1.8 billion causeway (68 km) linking Qatar and Bahrain is in the pipeline. Eight new hotels with a total of 2,550 rooms will be completed over the next two years. A 32 sq km   North Beach development of 10 resorts, two golf courses, 15,000 villas and apartments and huge commercial and retail shopping areas are also on the agenda. 

Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, minister of commerce and economy, while welcoming the CII construction mission, appreciated the timing of the visit. He expressed satisfaction over the proposed Ashghal and Indian industry plan for cooperation. He invited Indian companies to participate in the massive effort to transform Qatar into a most vibrant economic industrial entity in this part of the world as Indian industry possessed requisite technological capability and skilled manpower.

The minister recommended building a strategic partnership between India and Qatar, which would enable the Indian industry to effectively participate in Qatar’s economic and industrial development.

Oil, natural gas, steel and other industrial sectors offered enormous opportunities to strengthen the existing cooperation through active cooperation and collaboration with Qatari State Enterprises and private sector firms. Qatar is also liberalising visa rules to meet the growing need created by the process of development.