70% of Qatar Rail projects bagged by local market

DOHA: Qatar Rail projects have provided opportunities in billions of riyals to the local market and its employees, as about 70 percent of the value of Qatar Rail contracts went to the local market, said  Abdullah Abdulaziz Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Rail, yesterday.

Speaking to QNA on the sidelines of ‘Moushtarayat 2018’ – the Government Procurement and Contracting Conference and Exhibition,  Al Subaie said that the company has signed 1,800 contracts with local manufacturers and suppliers, including contracts with factories for the manufacture of cables, cable trays, distribution boards, iron, aluminium, glass and other products needed by Qatar Rail in its projects.

Al Subaie stressed that Qatar Rail had consumed almost all of the domestic market potential in its goods and services, which had excellent impact on demand in the local market.

He added that the largest number of local suppliers and contractors came through contracting and sub-contracting, while the company encourages primary contractors to deal with local manufacturers.

Qatar Rail is responsible for the design, development, maintenance of Qatar Railways and Doha Metro network, its management, operation and maintenance.

Speaking at one of the sessions at the exhibition, Board member of Qatar Chamber’s International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani said that the crisis of the unjust blockade of Qatar has strengthened the country’s position internationally. He discussed opportunities and challenges due to the blockade on Qatar and the role played by Qatar Chamber.

The Chamber has since the first day prepared a letter to reassure Qatar Chamber members of the stability of the markets.

The committee also prepared an internal questionnaire composed of members of the chamber’s board of directors and heads of departments in the chamber to receive complaints from affiliated companies and classify them according to activity and limit the damage caused by the blockade. He said the Chamber, in cooperation with several official and governmental bodies, has created alternatives to food products and raw materials so that major projects do not fall behind their schedule.

The Head of the Finance Ministry’s Purchase Management Department, Abdulaziz Zaid Rashid bin Taleb, said there was comprehensive coordination following the unjust blockade, through 250 points of contact in the state and 59 government agencies. There were more than 10 emergency committees meetings that took place to coordinate with the concerned parties, in order to avoid the impact of the blockade and address supply chain issues.

Chief Commercial Officer of Astad, Abdulaziz Al Mulla, said ASTAD has built a database that includes a list of national companies and national products or services and accurately evaluated them by using database as a reference to identify companies that can provide high quality services, reducing time and cost.

CEO of Qatar Business Incubation Center Aysha Al Mudahka said that the incubator organised a campaign following the blockade imposed on Qatar, to attract the entrepreneurs. There was a marked increase in the incubator’s progress by 200 percent compared to regular periods.