Qatar plans $27.5 billion-worth road upgrade in 2013

• Road and transport sector will have more than 30 mega projects awarded this year
• Qatar Projects 2013 held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Salah al-sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar; and Chairman & Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum
Doha, Qatar; 20 January 2013 - Qatar's road sector will witness a sharp increase in contract awards this year as the government initiates a major infrastructure upgrade of the country's road network.

Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, has one of the GCC's busiest road markets to date, with contracts valued $1.8 billion awarded so far.

Qatar's road market in 2012 has been propped by two major awards, the $640m deal awarded to the UAE's Al-Jaber Group for package 13 on the Doha Expressway and the $961m deal awarded to South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction for the Lusail Expressway.

According to MEED Projects, spending on future projects will significantly increase this year as more than 30 highway projects, valued at $27.5 billion, are awarded.

Tracking the growth and development of Qatar's transport sector, including details of potential contract awards, will be discussed significantly at the forthcoming Qatar Projects 2013 conference - the biggest gathering of stakeholders, owners, contractors in Qatar's project sector that is being held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al-sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar; and Chairman & Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum.

Supported by Qatar's Ministry of Trade and Business, Qatar Chamber and Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the conference will take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Doha from February 17-20, 2013.

The year 2013 onwards presents bigger opportunities to do business in Qatar as the country enters the next critical phase of its preparations to host FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Contractors, consultants and other stakeholders would not want to miss the massive surge of contracts that will be awarded in the next few years, with details and leads to be announced in various presentations and panel discussions throughout the duration of the conference," said Edmund O' Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events, organisers of Qatar Projects 2013.

The high profile conference features a keynote address from His Excellency Abdulla Bin Saoud al-Thani, Governor, Central Bank of Qatar, who will share insights on how government initiatives will drive project developments in the country and broader long-term economic aspirations.

Other noted speakers include:
• Dr. Khaled Alderbesti, Director, Economic & Commercial Promotion Dept., Ministry of Business & Trade;
• Remy Rowhani, Director General, Qatar Chamber; and
• Eng. Nasser Ghaith Al Kuwari, Manager Drainage Projects Department, Public Works Authority (Ashghal).

Among the critical topics that will be discussed at the conference include:
• tendering and bid preparation insights from major and mid-sized contractors,
• achieving project efficiencies and transparency on tenders and project bids, as well as
• driving costs down for materials, workforce and project resources.

Transport projects throughout the GCC will also be thoroughly discussed, as the region undertakes a massive road building and upgrade, with $4.9bn worth of construction contracts in the road sector already awarded last year, up 22% compared to 2011.

Qatar Projects 2013 will provide not just insights and information about the projects industry in Qatar, but important networking opportunities for all participants.

In addition to Qatar Petroleum, Ministry of Business and Trade, and Public Works Authority, Qatar Projects 2013 is being supported by:
• United Development Company as Strategic Partner;
• the International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) as Platinum sponsor;
• Qatar Islamic Bank as Gold Sponsor;
• Mashreq as Silver Sponsor; as well as
• Qatar Insurance Company and Brookfield Multiplex as Bronze Sponsors
• Metito is on board as Conference Sponsor; while • Patton Boggs and SSH International have signed up as Lunch Sponsors of the event; and
• Seib Insurance and Reinsurance as Breakfast Sponsor.

Those interested in participating are requested to visit the website listed below for further details.