Mega projects and trends to be discussed at Qatar Projects Conference 2010

The conference brings together key stakeholders of Qatar's energy and non-energy sectors to discuss issues such as diversification and growth in downstream energy projects, civil infrastructure development, the resilience of the country's financial sector, and the progress of the national master plan 'Qatar National Vision 2030'.

Expected to be the premier conference on big-ticket Qatari projects, the conference recently confirmed the participation of International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) as Platinum Sponsors and Qatar Petroleum as a Supporting Partner.

The line-up of speakers includes Dr. Khaled Yousef Alderbesti, Director at the Ministry of Business & Trade, Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, Managing Director and CEO of RasGas, and Muhammed Ghannam, Managing Director of Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company), as well as many others.

With the world still reeling from the aftershocks of the recent financial crisis, recovery is still only gaining momentum in many parts of the world. However, Qatar led by secure reserves of natural gas has managed to weave its way past the rubble and continue economic development. The economy's resilience has been attributed to a long term vision to develop both the energy and non-energy sectors in parallel to support the ambition of attaining complete non-reliance on energy by 2030.

IBQ General Manager Mr George Nasra, who will be one of the key speakers at the conference, is confident that current investments in the nation's booming economy will ensure a high rate of economic development into the future: "Despite the continuing strains on global economic progress, Qatar's economy continues to push ahead and this growth is supported by a commitment to long-term economic diversification through sustained investment in gas and oil, as well as in education, healthcare and other infrastructure projects. Qatar currently ranks sixth among countries with the most project financing activity in 2009. This is a clear indicator of real economic progress."

According to the Qatar Economic & Financial Review for 2008, published each year by the Bank, the country's natural gas industry quadrupled output between 1997 and 2007, led by a massive investment program, transforming Qatar into the world's largest producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"Qatar is expected to be the world's fastest growing economy in 2009 and one of the most buoyant projects market in the region," says MEED Events Chairman Edmund O'Sullivan. "MEED expects a range of major new schemes to be initiated in 2010 and the award of contracts worth in total up to $25bn. These opportunities will be the focus of the Qatar Projects 2010 conference and our speakers will provide cutting edge advice on how to win new contracts in the country in the years ahead."

Already the world's richest economy by GDP per capita income, Qatar is currently in the throes of developing an all encompassing development strategy that integrates Human, Social, Economic and Environmental development - the four pillars of the State's vision for 2030. Qatar 2030 is a program set forward by the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to build a bridge between current and future progress.

Some of the infrastructure work currently underway in Qatar includes the landmark causeway planned to link Qatar and its neighbour, the Kingdom of Bahrain, essentially completing a road loop interlinking all the GCC states - Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. One of the major sessions on the first day of the conference will focus on the progress of the Qatar-Bahrain causeway including a proposed timetable and various challenges that need to be overcome as the project develops.

In addition to highlighting Qatar's numerous world-renowned energy projects, the conference will also provide updates on Real Estate, Construction, Power and Utilities in Qatar. The panel discussions will also include stalwarts of Qatar's leading financial institutions and their perspectives on the future of the projects market. The conference, in keeping with Qatar's drive to maintain holistic growth in every aspect of its economic makeup, will also focus on Qatar's investments in Social Infrastructure, especially education and healthcare.