India-head quartered RP Group of Companies, which has operations in Qatar among other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, is considering investments worth approximately QR4bn in the region’s economies.
According to a statement issued by group chairman Ravi Pillai (pictured), the company’s new investments would generate about 25,000 new jobs in the Gulf region, including in Qatar. The group which already has offices and operations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, also plans to set up new offices in Kuwait and Oman.
Majority of the new investments are going to be UAE-focussed, it is found.
Pillai’s company Nasser al-Hajri Corp is actively involved in the oil and gas projects in Qatar and employs over 2000 personnel.
The company’s expansion programme for this year includes strengthening competencies in the oil and gas sector as well as hospitality and mixed-use developments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. It plans to build nearly 3mn sq ft of mixed-used development in Dubai, in addition to two new hotels.
The group also plans a five-star hotel, elegant residences and a massive facility for housing retail operations among other projects.
A five-star luxury hotel in the Dubai Marina to be operated by Crowne Plaza; a high-end four-star hotel in Bur Dubai to be managed by India’s ITC Group; and a dedicated serviced apartment complex near Downtown Dubai are among the group’s new projects.
“RP Group recorded robust growth last year, led by the positive performance of the regional economies,” said Pillai. “We are thankful to the support and guidance of the regional governments, which have outlined clear development visions with the goal of energising the economy and creating new jobs. We are committed to partnering with the socio-economic growth of the Gulf economies through our development projects that add tremendous value.
“In 2014, the focus of our expansion programmes is to further strengthen our footprint both in the oil and gas and non-oil sectors, thus effectively partnering with the growth strategy of the regional governments. This is reflected in our new developments in Dubai, which is currently further investing in the hospitality sector as part of the infrastructure development programmes in preparation to host the World Expo 2020.
“The new mixed-use project, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, will be a world-class development that meets the growing demand for residential, commercial, retail and hospitality real estate in the city. Our diverse portfolio of new hotels in Dubai complement the Dubai Tourism Vision 2020 announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister as well as Ruler of Dubai, to welcome over 20mn annual visitors by the turn of this decade,” Pillai said.
