Total hails Qatar's emergence as science and technology hub with QSTP

As preparations get underway for the grand inauguration of QSTP on 16 March, Christophe de Margerie, CEO of Total, one of the world's largest oil and gas companies and a world-class chemicals manufacturer, took the opportunity to reflect on Qatar's dynamic growth.

"Qatar has shown in the past that it was able to stick to the most ambitious strategies; I expect to see QSTP become an international technological and scientific cluster in the years to come," said Mr. de Margerie.

The CEO will be among 1200 guests in Doha to witness the inauguration of QSTP in the presence of His Highness The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation.

Mr. de Margerie continued, "Total has had a very long relationship with Qatar, with a presence in the country for more than 70 years. We have successfully supported many pioneer Qatar initiatives in Exploration, LNG and Petrochemicals. In 2005, when the Qatar Foundation came up with the QSTP initiative, we were one of the very first companies to support the initiative."

Mr. de Margerie concluded, "We expect our R&D activities to address practical issues of importance to Qatar, not only in the energy sector but also in other key subjects for Qatar, such as Education and Environment. As an illustration we wish to develop our position as an Air Quality Competence Centre for Qatar and start new initiatives around renewable energies with QSTP. We are convinced that such successful initiatives will benefit both Qatar and Total."