DOHA: Mwani Qatar and the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to consolidate efforts and foster cooperation to enhance the country's profile as a preferred investment destination to global companies.
The MoU was signed by CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani and CEO of Mwani Qatar Capt Abdulla Mohamed Al Khanji, in the presence of Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti.
Mwani Qatar and QFZ are to work on reinforcing coordination and facilitating the integration of commercial operations at both the ports and free zones in Qatar to enhance opportunities to promote trade and investments and benefit from the technical expertise and capabilities of both parties.
The MoU also stipulates that Mwani Qatar will provide support to investors and companies operating within the country's free zones in terms of integrated port and logistics services. Additionally, Mwani Qatar will provide other services like maintenance, installation, and replacement of Aids to Navigation (AtoN), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), pilotage, towing, and other related services.
On this occasion, Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said that the MoU contributes to supporting the emergence of a thriving and sustainable maritime industry by enhancing cooperation and meeting the investors' needs within the free zones in a way that is in the interest of the economic diversification and Qatar's overall competitiveness.
He added that MOT's plans and strategies have contributed to Qatar's having large capabilities in the maritime transportation and logistics sectors and we work on utilizing these capabilities alongside implementing the National Strategy for Logistic Services Sector (transportation and storage) to solidify Qatar's position as a global logistics destination and enable traders and investors with less time and cost and this will support the requirements of economic diversification clusters for logistics services and shipping, which represents one of the most important outcomes of implementing the NDS3 and QNV2030.Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani said, "The signing of this memorandum of understanding with Mwani Qatar marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to support the investors in Qatar's free zones. This collaboration will allow our investors to benefit significantly from the excellent maritime transport services by Mwani Qatar, helping them compete better in regional and global markets. By facilitating a business-friendly environment, we aim to provide companies operating in the free zones with enhanced opportunities for growth and expansion, and ultimately to reinforce Qatar's position as a premier investment destination in line with the pillars of the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030."
Capt Al Khanji welcomed the signing of the MoU with QFZ, highlighting that this collaboration will promote economic and logistical integration between the two entities. He emphasized that it would allow investors in the free zones to benefit from the company's competitive services, fostering new opportunities for growth and expansion, contributing to economic diversification and enhancing the nation's competitiveness in global markets.
In a related context, MOT's Land Transport Licensing Department Director Hamad Ali Al Marri, who leads the team of the above-mentioned National Strategy for Logistic Services Sector (transportation and storage), said that today's MoU will be in the interest of the pillars of the strategy; namely streamlining and facilitating the trans-border operational processes and trans-shipping, attracting trade flows, upgrading and enhancing local logistics services, and creating a structure that ensures the effectiveness of governance and coordination in that vital industry.
This strategy, he added, would be implemented in phases to reinforce Qatar's global profile logistically by fulfilling the requirements of efficiency, connectivity, innovation, and sustainability, through continuing to develop the Qatari transportation sector's infrastructure, connecting the facilities of the logistics storage areas to an advanced road network, advancing on digital transformation to make processes and procedures easier at all transportation outlets, and using clean energy in all activities of that vital industry.
Noteworthy, this Mwani Qatar-QFZ cooperation is part of a series of initiatives and measures supported by the state to provide a top-notch business environment for companies investing in Qatar generally and the free zones.