No priority to local firms in Qatar projects

Gas-rich Qatar  has plans to carry out projects worth more than QR one trillion (USD 274 billion) until 2022 but priority will not be given to local companies, the Gulf country’s top contractor said in remarks on Thursday.

Nasser Al Meer, chairman of the contractors’ commission at Qatar’s chamber of commerce and industry, said the projects cover infrastructure, oil and gas, roads and sport facilities for the 2022 World Cup to be hosted by Qatar.

He said the costs of the projects could increase in the coming years depending on market prices, adding that the government has approved an “open budget.”

“Regarding companies from Qatar and other Gulf countries wishing to execute these projects, the government has no plans to give priority to any specific firm or country…only qualified companies which are picked during bidding will undertake projects,” he told a Gulf contractors conference in Doha on Wednesday.

“Qatari and GCC companies are not capable of carrying out large projects on their own…some projects need international companies and require technological capabilities that are not available at our companies…but there are some projects, mainly small ones, that can be awarded to local and regional contractors,” he added in his comments, carried by the Qatari Al Arab and Al Watan newspapers.

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