RIYADH: Qatar’s Public Works Authority tendered 22 building projects worth 4.1 billion riyals ($1.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2023, with plans to award more projects by the end of this year, the authority said in a statement.
This is part of more than 8 billion Qatari riyals that the Gulf state has laid out for various projects in recent months as it upgrades the country’s infrastructure and public buildings.
The authority, also known as Ashghal, said in a statement that six projects worth 1.1 billion riyals have already been awarded, including the construction and development of several buildings.
Qatar also has 10 more projects under implementation with an estimated value of 3 billion riyals. This includes the development of Hamad General Hospital, Madinat Khalifa Health Center, Qatar Sidra Academy and the veterinary laboratory building of the Ministry of Municipality.
“This is in addition to tendering more projects in the third quarter of this year. Ashghal is continuing to complete infrastructure and public buildings projects according to Qatar’s plan,” said Youssef Al-Emadi, director of projects affairs at Ashghal, in the statement.
Qatar is also developing many court projects to upgrade its judicial infrastructure.
This saw Ashghal and the Supreme Judiciary Council launching a design competition, seeking brilliant architectural design ideas for eight new courts, including the Court Complex and the Court of Cassation.
The Court of Cassation project will be spread over a 50,000 sq.meters area in Wadi Al-Sail. The Court Complex in Wadi Al-Banat, on the other hand, will be built on a 100,000 sq. meter area and will house seven courts, including the Criminal Court, the Family Court, the Traffic Court and the Investment and Trade Court.
The complex will also be home to the Civil Court, the Court of First Instance and the Enforcement Court.
Ashghal had also recently invited designs for the main post office building and the land transport customs building in Thumama.
Last month, the public works authority also announced that phase one of the seasonal storage lagoons of the treated sewage effluent plant was 75 percent complete.
Once ready, the project would contribute to maximizing the utilization of renewable water resources and the optimal use of treated wastewater in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives in environmental sustainability.
Qatar’s Ashghal tenders 22 building projects worth $1.1bn in Q1
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Qatar’s Ashghal tenders 22 building projects worth $1.1bn in Q1
Saudi investment pipeline active as reforms advance, says Pakistan minister
ALULA: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Mohammed Aurangzeb described Saudi Arabia as a “longstanding partner” and emphasized the importance of sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in key economic sectors.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Aurangzeb said the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia remains resilient despite global geopolitical tensions.
“The Kingdom has been a longstanding partner of Pakistan for the longest time, and we are very grateful for how we have been supported through thick and thin, through rough patches and, even now that we have achieved macroeconomic stability, I think we are now well positioned for growth.”
Aurangzeb said the partnership has facilitated investment across several sectors, including minerals and mining, information technology, agriculture, and tourism. He cited an active pipeline of Saudi investments, including Wafi’s entry into Pakistan’s downstream oil and gas sector.
“The Kingdom has been very public about their appetite for the country, and the sectors are minerals and mining, IT, agriculture, tourism; and there are already investments which have come in. For example, Wafi came in (in terms of downstream oil and gas stations). There’s a very active pipeline.”
He said private sector activity is driving growth in these areas, while government-to-government cooperation is focused mainly on infrastructure development.
Acknowledging longstanding investor concerns related to bureaucracy and delays, Aurangzeb said Pakistan has made progress over the past two years through structural reforms and fiscal discipline, alongside efforts to improve the business environment.
“The last two years we have worked very hard in terms of structural reforms, in terms of what I call getting the basic hygiene right, in terms of the fiscal situation, the current economic situation (…) in terms of all those areas of getting the basic hygiene in a good place.”
Aurangzeb highlighted mining and refining as key areas of engagement, including discussions around the Reko Diq project, while stressing that talks with Saudi investors extend beyond individual ventures.
“From my perspective, it’s not just about one mine, the discussions will continue with the Saudi investors on a number of these areas.”
He also pointed to growing cooperation in the IT sector, particularly in artificial intelligence, noting that several Pakistani tech firms are already in discussions with Saudi counterparts or have established offices in the Kingdom.
Referring to recent talks with Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s large freelance workforce presents opportunities for deeper collaboration, provided skills development keeps pace with demand.
“I was just with (Saudi) minister of economy and planning, and he was specifically referring to the Pakistani tech talent, and he is absolutely right. We have the third-largest freelancer population in the world, and what we need to do is to ensure that we upscale, rescale, upgrade them.”
Aurangzeb also cited opportunities to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s experience in the energy sector and noted continued cooperation in defense production.
Looking ahead, he said Pakistan aims to recalibrate its relationship with Saudi Arabia toward trade and investment rather than reliance on aid.
“Our prime minister has been very clear that we want to move this entire discussion as we go forward from aid and support to trade and investment.”
