Muntajat plans HQ in Netherlands

Muntajat (Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company) has chosen Netherlands — ‘chemical corridor to Europe’ — as the headquarters of its international marketing arm Muntajat Besloten Vennoot (Muntajat BV).

“As the company that represents the chemical, polymer and fertiliser products of Qatar abroad, Muntajat’s presence in the Netherlands will provide a strategically located base for reaching customers in markets around the world,” Energy Minister HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada said.

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and the West Holland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA) advised and assisted Muntajat in the location of Muntajat BV, which will be headquartered at The World Trade Center, in The Hague.

Muntajat BV — which will have approximately 150 employees in more than 30 offices serving more than 120 countries worldwide — provides marketing services to Muntajat, the gateway to Qatar’s high-quality chemical, polymer and fertiliser exports.

The establishment of Muntajat BV in the Netherlands and the organisation of its operations in The Hague are important milestones in the development of Muntajat, less than one year since its launch, according to Muntajat CEO Abdulrahman Ali al-Abdulla.

“As a country that is also a regional hub for energy and chemical products, the fit between Qatar and the Netherlands is logical. We look forward to opening our international marketing headquarters as the next step towards our ambition of becoming the leading marketer of chemicals and petrochemicals worldwide,” he said.

The Netherlands was chosen as the home for Muntajat BV owing to its favourable business climate, reputation as an internationally oriented country and quality and multilingual workforce, said Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari, chairman of Muntajat B V and executive director (Marketing & Sales), Muntajat.

The proximity of The Hague to the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, Schiphol Airport and international chemical and petrochemical companies also contributed to the decision, he added.

“The match between Muntajat and The Hague is perfect,” according to Bas Pulles, commissioner for foreign investment at NFIA, which helped the company obtain an advance tax ruling from the Dutch tax authorities; while WFIA helped identify options for the right office space and local service providers based on the company’s needs.