The Spanish Business Council (SBC) has chosen Manateq under corporate segment and Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani under individual category for its Friends of Spain award “Amigos de España”.
The awards were delivered during a formal gala dinner held at the residence of the Spanish ambassador Ignacio Escobar on November 21, 2017 in the presence of SBC chairman Jose Vicente, accompanied by a short flamenco dance performance. Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al-Thani received the award on behalf of his father Sheikh Nawaf.
The council is a private non-profit organisation gathering Spanish and foreign companies and individuals committed to improving the commercial, economic, cultural and educational relations between Spain and Qatar.
Manateq’s award was given to chief executive Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi, in recognition for his leadership and contribution to the development of Qatar by providing world-class infrastructures within strategically placed economic zones, a project in which Spanish companies such as SACYR are partners.
Qatar Airways, Ashghal, Qatar Rail and SCDL were the entities that have been awarded the corporate prize in the previous editions.
As for the individuals, the awardees were Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, Abdulla al-Dolaimi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani and M A Yusuff Ali (chairman of EMKE Group).
In 2016, Spain was the sixth European supplier for Qatar, with 3.5% of total European exports. The bilateral trade stood at €854mn.
Al-Kaabi and Sheikh Faleh, along with Escobar and Vicente after receiving the award.
