DOHA – With more than $200 billion worth of major projects due to be awarded in the years to 2030, Qatar remains one of the three top markets for companies doing business in and with the Middle East region. Qatar Projects 2014 will present a comprehensive review of the massive opportunities at stake, and provide international and regional stakeholders in-depth and fresh insights from key government agencies at the two-day conference to be held on March 18-19, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Doha. - Sheikh Abdullah Saoud Al-Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank will deliver the keynote address at the conference. Organized by leading business intelligence firm MEED for the past 10 years, Qatar Projects will show which sectors stand to benefit from increased government spending which began accelerating this year and is expected to grow in value beyond $20 billion each year for the next decade and a half. “We are at the start of an era that will see the award of a series of massive construction contracts across Qatar's infrastructure, transport, energy and utilities sectors. Qatar is now ranked as the most important project in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia,” said Edmund O' Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events. Already, MEED sees Qatar's projects marketing having significant activity in 2014 with infrastructure and transport contract awards expected to peak at $24 billion. Doha alone has a considerable backlog of work to execute between 2014 and 2019, with associated contractor and third party opportunities valued at $90 billion, including $40 billion worth of roads, ports and rail work as well as $19 billion construction projects! In addition, Qatar's petrochemicals industry offers the most opportunities to international EPC contractors. According to MEED Projects, EPC contracts worth a total of $14.63 billion are in the design and tender phases in Qatar. The majority of this figure is accounted for by two massive schemes, worth a combined $14 billion, that is being planned for the Ras Laffan industrial city in northern Qatar. Along with Qatar's development comes an anticipated increase in population as well as the decoupling in gas prices, these and their impact on the country's infrastructure and energy sector will be analyzed by experts. MEED Insight will also present a thorough quantitative and qualitative forecast of Qatar and GCC Projects Market. To deliver more sector-specific content as well as extended networking opportunities with Qatar's government and public authorities, Qatar Projects 2014 Conference will feature two dedicated tracks; one which covers Qatar's Infrastructure & Transport sector, and another which focuses on Qatar's Energy & Utilities sector. – SG
