The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday held the third ‘Ta’heel’ initiative for local investors and manufacturers to attract more Qatari manufacturers to join and participate in Ashghal’s supply chain.
The forum highlighted the advantages of the participants in the ‘Ta’heel’ initiative, launched by Ashghal in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank to allow Qatari manufacturers to participate in the implementation of Ashghal engineering and construction programmes and projects.
It also aims at including national companies in Ashghal’s approved supply chain, in addition to encouraging new national investors to invest in the establishment of new factories that contribute to the requirements of Qatar projects that Ashghal and other bodies are working on, QNA reported.
The third ‘Ta’heel’ Forum also presented one of the leading models that joined Ashghal initiative road lighting units used by the authority in the implementation of its projects, and how they motivated the Qatari manufacturers to develop their factories and products to get international credits and tenders to supply their products to Asian countries.
The forum also addressed the “Constructing Excellence” Initiative launched by Ashghal in co-operation with the UK Constructing Excellence Organisation, which aims to promote and apply best practices, encourage innovation, and adopt latest technologies in order to improve and develop the construction sector in Qatar, through applying the best practices in Ashghal’s projects vendors and suppliers’ management.
During the forum, Ashghal Technical Office manager Engineer Ahmed Ali al-Ansari said: “Since the launch of Ta’heel initiative, Ashghal has succeeded in increasing Qatari factories by 86 to reach 131 factories by the end of October 2018. The number of locally manufactured materials, which are used in infrastructure projects were increased by 114 materials and are now 165 building materials manufactured in Qatar.”
The construction materials approved by the Public Works Authority from July 2017 until end of October 2018 vary between sewage pipes, lighting poles, lighting materials, paving materials and road signs.
In the building sector, local products used include materials for electricity, mechanics, fire systems and interior finishing works.
In addition to the approved locally made cement, Gabro and asphalt factories.
Vendor Management Unit leader at Ashghal Engineer Mohamed Ehab Samir said: “Ashghal continues to market the initiative and raise awareness to support Qatari manufacturers and service providers through many workshops and training courses offered by Ta’heel”.
He added: “Some factories certifications such as ISO, which is required by Ashghal to approve the quality of the product, Qatar Development Bank provides 50% of its cost. Manufacturers and pre-approved vendors from other entities such as ‘Kahramaa’ are easily accredited”.
He pointed that the accreditation process is completed within 3 weeks from the date of the request, if all the requirements and documents are obtained.