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| HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah speaking at the opening session of the seminar yesterday |
Qatar is set to undertake some QR100bn worth of infrastructure projects within the next five to seven years, according to officials at a seminar on infrastructure and water management technology organised by the Qatari and Japanese governments yesterday.
The meeting brought together experts from Japanese and local companies to discuss future collaboration in a number of areas, and was held under the auspices of the president of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, who gave a speech to open the event at the Grand Hyatt Doha.
Opening remarks were also made by the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, Kyoichi Tshushima, as well as the president of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi.
Al-Mawlawi said that Ashghal will be working on infrastructure projects within the next seven years, valued at around QR100bn, with various other highway and water treatment projects currently
under way.
Yesterday’s event included two seminars - one addressing the issue of infrastructure projects in Qatar, and the other on water and wastewater management and construction
technologies.
Japanese companies have developed a range of new technologies, now used in construction and infrastructure projects all over the world, and representatives from a number of businesses involved in flagship projects attended the meeting to network with local contractors and officials.
Al-Attiyah spoke about the close relationship between Qatar and Japan, which has developed over 40 years of business between the countries, and expressed his hope to see more ties being made as a result of the seminar.
He described infrastructure as “the backbone to our development,” highlighting its importance to Qatar as it continues to expand rapidly.
He also referred to the importance of water treatment, expressing his hope to find new ways to help treat and manage what he called “the key to life,” in a country where it is
extremely scarce.
Al-Attiyah also spoke about moving towards a more sustainable future, and referred to the large number of opportunities which will be made available to companies from Japan, especially as part of Qatar’s preparations for 2022.
Tshushima thanked al-Attiyah and the Qatari government for their assistance following the earthquake which devastated the nation last year.
He praised al-Attiyah for his commitment to Qatari-Japanese relations and expressed his belief that Japanese companies can play a significant role in the development of various projects ahead of the World Cup here in 10 years.
The event saw representatives of companies discussing stadium construction and preparation, transit system construction, finance and water treatment, including sewerage policies and other technology.
