The project to link all the GCC countries through a railway network is on track and tenders for executing the Qatari part of the project is expected to be issued by the third quarter of next year, a senior official of the Qatar Railways Company said yesterday. All the GCC countries are currently working on the designs for the railway project that would cost an estimated $200bn and is planned to be completed by 2017. The GCC railway net work would be the focus of discussions at the GCC Transport and Railway Conference that will take place in Doha from October 17 to October 19. Experts and senior government officials from all the GCC countries will attend the event, along with representatives from several regional and international companies specialising in the railway sector. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Engineer Saad Ahmed Al Mohannadi, CEO of the Qatar Railways Company said tenders for the Qatar railway project would be issued by the third quarter of 2012. The Qatari project is linked with the GCC project and will be implemented in a phased manner. “ Preparations are progressing as scheduled. The project will be implemented in a phased manner so that there would not be any shortage of resources or material,” said Al Mohannadi. Sheikh Saoud Bin Nasser Bin Jassim Al Thani, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Qatar Railways Company, while announcing the launch of the GCC Transport and Railways Conference, said, “The GCC is going through an incredible transformation at the moment. With money flooding in from, all of us have a vested interest to increase investing in our infrastructure – namely in transportation networks and railroads. With Qatar about to announce the consortium for building the Doha metro system shortly, no time is more prudent than now to allow government agencies and private companies from across the region to not only discuss challenges in this sector, but also means of cooperation across country borders.” The conference will give participants the platform to debate ways of developing the maritime and air transport systems, logistics, transportation, railways systems, as well as the much talked-about plans to link the road and railways networks of countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Qatar International Exhibition for transport and Logistics (TRANS4) will be held at the Doha Exhibition Center, as part of conference. “Not only will we be discussing the linkage of the regional transportation networks, but ways that this will enhance the economic and logistical environment between the regional countries, as well as between the GCC and other countries in the world,” said Sheikh Saoud. The conference will discuss nine major topics- strategies and policies for the development and finance of transport sector in GCC, Land and maritime transport in GCC, major developments, expansion and investment in the railway Industry in GCC, exchange of experience and benchmarking in the transport and railway industry, intermodal national and regional transport networks and facilities, institutional reforms of the transport sector. Investment opportunities and PPP in the transport and railway Sector, transport, trade and logistics: challenges and Opportunities towards globalization, operations and innovations in the railway industry. The conference has attracted global and regional players with an interest in the transportation industry. From Gulf Cooperation Council and European countries, delegates headed by ministers of transport, finance, and public works will be participating. The conference will feature 40 speakers who discuss their experience and expertise in the field of transportation and railways, and over 400 participants from more than 20 countries http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/business-news/168776-railway-tender-likely-by-end-of-next-year.html

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar