Qatari delegation meeting French businesses about Doha metro project

7-8 November 2013 – Paris - France

Next November 7th and 8th, Hotel Scribe in Paris will host a Qatari delegation come to present the opportunities available to French businesses in the Doha metro project. QRail, the Qatar Development Bank, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Zones Company will be travelling there with all of the contractors involved in the project and supporting the event: ISG, QDVC-GS E&C – ADE, PORR – SBG – HBK, Samsung – OHL - QBC.

Their aim is to raise interest among French businesses by showing them, through this project, what investment and market opportunities exist in Qatar. Indeed, phase 1 in the metro project, which consists of 37 stations and three lines extending 105 km for a €20b budget, does imply a great many needs in a wide variety of sectors. In addition to the full range of infrastructures and the management of the various related services and construction work, everything relating to rolling stock, operations and the buildings too all have precisely defined requirements. This project brings together over one hundred opportunities within the framework of the railway urban infrastructure projects managed by QRail.

The event will start on the morning of the 7th with a workshop highlighting various aspects in the project:
An introduction to the metro project itself, followed by a presentation of the 4 consortiums selected to implement it. The workshop will then continue with a testimonial by major companies established in Qatar (Systra, Vossloh Cogifer, RATP Dev) and who actively support these meetings being held in Paris. Alstom Transport too is a partner in the event. The morning will close with an introduction to the way business in conducted in Qatar. The afternoon of the 7th as well as the whole of the next day will be devoted to meetings between the Qatari delegation and the selected French companies.

What the Qatari delegation is seeking is to foster commercial and industrial partnerships between Qatar and SMEs in countries that enjoy a mature urban transport sector and industry. France is certainly in a position to meet this requirement. In addition to being the 2nd-ranking railway power in Europe, France enjoys an excellent worldwide reputation thanks to, among other things, the widely acknowledged skills and experience of its companies in all fields in the sector, such as rolling stock, engineering, infrastructures and more. On top of that, the country boasts a wide range of advantages like a dynamic domestic market in such segments as tramways, metros, suburban trains, regional trains, ticketing systems and ITS.

For decades, Qatar and France enjoy an outstanding relationship. Strong ties based on trust and long-term partnerships have been built in the economic sphere. For more than 75 years, French companies have been working in Qatar to support the economic development and strengthen these links.

On the commercial side, trade is intensifying with Qatari authorities and companies being keen on acquiring high quality products. In the recent year, trade between our two countries increased (+ 50% in 2010, +40 % in 2011). In 2012, trade reached 1.6 M€ between France and Qatar, and our trade balance is relatively balanced with 775 M€ import from France and 782,2M€ export to France.

France is the 9th supplier of Qatar, with exports to the Emirate continuously increasing, especially with products like aircrafts, electric and electronic equipment, communication equipment. French consumer goods such as food, luxury items, perfumes and cosmetics are also recognized for their quality, and the demand for such products is increasing.

Trade : On the commercial side, trade is intensifying with Qatari authorities and companies being keen on acquiring high quality products. In the recent year, trade between our two countries increased dramatically (+ 50% in 2010, +40 % in 2011). In 2012, trade reached 1.6 M€ between France and Qatar, and our trade balance is relatively balanced with 775 M€ import from France and 782,2M€ export to France.