Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi

How will Manateq obtaining the integrated management system (IMS) certification benefit its wide range of stakeholders and help attract new investments into its zones?

Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi: An IMS, by definition, combines different management systems into one system. Hence, in terms of operational processes, our IMS implementation has seen us merge our business components into one system aligned behind a single goal of improving the entire organization’s performance. In this way, we are fulfilling Manateq’s target of delivering business excellence across all outcomes, performance, practice, structure, and systems. This demonstrates our commitment to having an efficient business environment that eases investing opportunities so that investors can focus more on their investments and productivity.

How will the Mesaieed industrial Zone Benefit from your five-year new projects plan?

Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi: Mesaieed Industrial Zone will receive a significant share of the investment allocated as part of our five-year plan for new projects that will enhance its infrastructure in line with the nation’s long-term vision to diversify Qatar’s energy-rich economy into a well-developed and sustainable economy by 2030. These improvements are needed to service various industrial clusters. These investments are an addition to the existing and ongoing projects that are at various stages of completion. The five-year plan and its investment allocations aligns with Manateq’s vision and mission of creating a business environment that allows and enables investors to deliver world-class products and services in Qatar.

Among Manateq’s latest projects are Birkat Al Awamer Logistics Park extension and the open yards in Al Khor and Al Karaana. How does this infrastructure stimulate Qatar’s business community?

Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi: Our 9.4 million sqm Birkat Al Awamer Logistics Park is designed for companies wanting to build their own warehouses or workshops, commercial showrooms, offices, and staff accommodation on one plot. The park has been well received, with our investor total reaching 3,320. Leases were available at QAR20 per sqm per year, with investors being incentivized by a two-year, rent-free grace period and flexible construction procedures. The open yards in the Al Khor and Al Karaana industrial zones provide the business community with competitive rent rates and short-term lease contracts. In particular, these yards are attractive, practical solutions for SMEs to take advantage of affordable rental prices, as low as QAR10 per sqm annually with short-term lease contracts. This has resulted in successfully leasing more than 3 million sqm of open yard space. Assisting the growth of SMEs is a key aim of Qatar that recognizes how this important business segment significantly contributes to areas such as innovation, efficiency, job creation, and international competitiveness. Qatar has worked harder to provide the appropriate environment for the growth of SMEs by enacting laws and administrative procedures necessary to encourage this sector, facilitating the necessary procedures for their establishment, and launching national initiatives and programs that support the owners of these enterprises. There have been initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of SME products and services at the local level and support for their export capabilities at regional and global levels, thus reflecting the directives of the wise leadership in Qatar. This is also in line with the most important economic pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Manateq has been instrumental in raising the profile of Qatar as an investment destination in the last decade. What is your overall assessment of its work?

Fahad Rashid Al-Kaabi: We have experienced considerable success over the past decade, though we will not rest on our laurels and will continue to strive to attain the Qatar National Vision goals of diversifying the economy. We have played a significant role in prioritizing the local SME sector as evidenced by our new open yards and logistics parks, in addition to our investments have attracted international expertise to Qatar and are going a long way to stimulating an entrepreneurial culture. The government does not want the economy to drop off after the 2022 World Cup. 6