FROM LEFT: Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, Fikret Ozer; Germany’s Ambassador to Qatar, Hans-Udo Muzel; and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, at a panel discussion at Project Qatar Conference 2019 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center,
Qatar’s construction industry looks bright and robust, and holds great potential as a showcase for the whole region, Germany’s Ambassador to Qatar, Hans-Udo Muzel has said at the Ambassadors’ panel discussion at the on-going Project Qatar Conference 2019 which opened on Monday.
According to Ambassador Muzel, the construction sector projects currently implemented in Qatar are sustainable because they go beyond the Fifa World Cup 2022, and are purposely being built in relation to the Qatar National Vision 2030.
He added that there is currently a niche market demand for smart modern city solutions in the country and German companies could assist and work with Qatari companies here to create knowledge transfer related to smart city solutions.
He added, “We also need to look into the post-construction phase. We have these high tech infrastructures, and Qatar will need world class high tech maintenance systems which will also create a lot of businesses and job opportunities. Europe is open for business and open to engage with you”. Further, the Ambassador also reiterated that there will be no distraction in trade and financial services between Qatar and Europe even if the UK leaves the European Union.
Also speaking during the event, Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, Fikret Ozer has reiterated the strong economic relations between Qatar and Turkey, and highlighted that there are 52 Turkish companies taking part in the exhibition.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah noted that almost 150,000 Pakistanis are currently involved in Qatar’s construction industry for the past four decades with many of them working as labourers and workers. He added: “Also, several Pakistani construction companies have been taking part in Qatar’s infrastructure development. We’re really proud of the contribution of Pakistanis in Qatar’s development. And we want to bring in more companies, especially we have experience in building some of the biggest construction projects in the world”.
Talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event, Italy’s Trade Commissioner to Qatar Giosafat Rigano’ also said that over 100 B2B meetings will be conducted between Qatari and Italian companies during the three-day event to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
He said: “This year, the Italian pavilion which showcases 20 Italian companies is the largest European pavilion at the exhibition. We have companies specialising in wood, stones, building materials, smart city and smart factory solutions for security, healthy systems, and logistics among others. The Italian Trade Agency in Qatar has arranged more than 100 B2B meetings between Italian companies and local Qatari companies. We expect new agreements and contracts with local operators during the event. This is a concrete way of showing our increasingly growing important cooperation with Qatar. I’m hoping that these meetings can be really fruitful and valuable in terms of investment,” Rigano’ also said.
