Doha, July 25 (QNA) - The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the launch of the 'Ta'heel' initiative in partnership and cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB) to qualify and accredit Qatari factories.
The new approach gives the factories an opportunity to participate in the implementation of Ashghal's programmes and projects, through enlistment of Qatari manufacturers in the authority's approved supply chain, in addition to accrediting local industrial products that meet the technical requirements, specifications, and the standard quality levels.
Ashghal has adopted an effective and accessible procedure to enlist, qualify, and accredit national factories. These factories get qualified within three weeks of submitting the application to Ashghal if they meet the technical requirements in terms of required quality factors and levels.
The initiative aims as well at relying on Qatari capacities, resources, industries and human resources, in addition to encouraging new national investors to devote their investments in establishing new factories that contribute to the needs of the state projects being implemented by Ashghal and other entities.
The Public Works Authority and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to activate the "Ta'heel" initiative, as part of the second edition of Qatar Development Bank's forum "Buy National Product", which aims to encourage SMEs to expand their local business in different Industry sectors.
The MoU was signed by President of the Public Works Authority Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi and CEO of Qatar Development Bank Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa. Technical Office Manager in Ashghal Eng. Ahmed Ali Al Ansari gave a presentation about the initiative and how the factories can submit their applications and register for the initiative.
President of the Public Works Authority Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi said that the authority is working hard to meet the requirements of the next phase in accordance with the priorities set by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during his speech about the current situation and Qatar's future directions, with regards to maximising the reliance on our national resources and capabilities, achieving self-sufficiency in all fields and relying on Qatari resources and human potentials.
He added: "Through Taheel initiative, Ashghal, in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, intends to accredit national factories and provide Qatari manufacturers with the opportunity to participate in the implementation of Ashghal's existing and future construction and engineering programmes and projects. This is in addition to attracting new national investors to contribute in the country's projects depending on the Qatari capabilities, resources, industries and human resources, in order to achieve the vision of His Highness the Emir".
From his side Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: "The Bank, in cooperation with Ashghal, is supporting the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to reach the required level to be enlisted to the supply chain accredited by Ashghal.
The role of QDB is to empower the SME sector and enhance its competitive advantage to participate effectively in realizing Qatar National Vision 2030. He explained that QDB is working through the initiative to provide the necessary consultancy services to enable these factories, through feasibility studies, legal services, auditing and accounting services, marketing and public relations services, as well as training, development and qualification to obtain the ISO 9001.
Responding to questions raised by reporters, Ashghal President Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi said the Authority seeks to exploit local product and domestic industries to optimize the utilization of local projects. It facilitates the entry of these factories into the projects and organizes workshops to enable them to provide products in line with international standards, he said.
He pointed out that products of three local factories have already been purchased, including two sewage pipe factories and a lighting pole factory. These existing factories provide products that are manufactured inside the State of Qatar, he added. QDB Chief Executive Officer Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa expressed his pleasure to cooperate with Ashghal in qualifying Qatari companies to produce world-class products.
Qatar Development Bank, through an initiative with Shell Qatar since 2012, has helped 24 Qatari companies to sign contracts worth more than QR150 million in that period. He said that QDB's role is not only financing companies, but goes beyond that to qualify companies, extend necessary training and provide business incubators for some projects and Qatari entrepreneurs wishing to implement their projects, in addition to providing 50% of the cost of feasibility studies, with the applicant paying the remaining 50%.
In a statement on the sidelines of the signing of the agreement, Director of Drainage Network Design Department at Ashghal Eng. Nasser Fakhro said that there are about 20 local Qatari companies operating in the field of sewage products with a range of products such as control rooms, electrical control panels, sewage pipes, lighting poles and other products. They represent currently about 20 to 15 percent and efforts are going on to raise this percentage to a higher level through the initiatives being launched, he added.
It is noteworthy that through the QDB initiative in the (Moushtarayat 1) in 2016 and (Moushtarayat 2) in 2017, the bank has successfully introduced several Qatari factories into the list of local suppliers for the government and local factories. One of QDBs major successes has also been the introduction of local suppliers to Shell Qatar since 2011.
Through "Taheel" initiative, the Public Works Authority provides the national factories with the lists of the materials used in Ashghal's infrastructure projects, as well as their approved specifications and the required quantities.In collaboration with Qatar Development Bank, Ashghal contributes in developing the Qatari manufacturers capabilities and re-qualifying them if they failed to meet the requirements of listing, through workshops, facilitation and guidance. This would be in addition to conducting training courses that qualify them to produce raw materials that can contribute to the implementation of the state projects, according to the highest specifications. (END)