Qatar yesterday signed several deals to boost sustainable development and provide smart and innovative transport solutions in the run up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani witnessed the signing of contracts worth QR6bn to purchase World Cup buses, establish an electric bus assembly plant in addition to signing 11 contracts for bus infrastructure that support the private sector.
Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said the signing of contracts comes within the framework of implementing the Electric Vehicle Strategy the Ministry developed with the bodies concerned and which is a key part of Qatar's public transportation plan 2030.
"Such steps would enhance Qatar's ranking as a pioneer in the area of clean energy mass transit, becoming one of the very first countries in the world having an integrated electric bus system, in addition to boosting the potential value of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022 bus system for creating a positive legacy," the Minister stated.
The contracts were signed by Qatar Free Zones Authority, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Karwa Transportation Company, Chinese companies Yutong and Higer, and a number of private sector companies working in the field of contracting and construction.
Ashghal signed 11 new contracts worth QR2bn for building bus stations and warehouses. The contracts are entrusted to Qatari firms within the framework of government's directives to support national companies. QFZA signed a multilateral framework agreement to manufacture electric-buses in Umm Al Houl Free Zone. A number of these e-buses will be earmarked for export across the Middle East, Europe, South America and Africa. Mowasalat (Karwa), meanwhile, is purchasing 3,000 new buses for the FIFA World Cup 2022. More than 25 percent of these new buses will be electric, which makes the deal one of the largest of its kind in the world and proves to be a leap towards public transport sustainability.
Mowasalat CEO, Fahad Saad Al Qahtani said the deal is a part of MoTC strategy to provide a world-class, integrated multimodal system that provides safe, reliable and eco-friendly services. Overall, this will improve Qatar's international position in the field of environmental sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The transport sector in Qatar is witnessing a major shift and the State is committed to deploying global clean energy solutions on transportation and determined to host an exceptional, eco-friendly, carbon-neutral championship.
