Qatar launches $6.8bn public works

Qatar has launched a QR25 billion ($6.87 billion) public works project which includes several infrastructure development schemes.

The Public Works Authority's (Asghal) plan includes 32 road projects, 19 construction projects and seven waste disposing projects.

Some of the projects will be completed by the end of 2006, when Doha will stage the Asian Games.

Several thousand construction-related jobs will be created as a result of the plan.

Speaking at a press conference held to announce the plan,
Tenders for the construction would be open to local and, under certain conditions, to international companies as well, said Zayed Mansour Al Khayareen, general manager of Asghal. However, tenders for projects worth less than QR100 million will be open only to Qatari companies.

Projects worth between QR100 million and QR200 million will be open to joint ventures between Qatari and international companies. The Qatari partner must own no less than 51 per cent of the venture.

Tenders for projects worth more than QR200 million will be open to joint ventures between international and local companies, with the condition that at least 30 per cent of the contract value would be subcontracted to local companies.

The plan focuses mainly on transportation-related projects, with about QR13 billion (Dh13.1 billion) allocated to the modernisation of Qatar's roads, bridges and tunnels.

About QR7 billion has been allocated for major waste disposal projects.