Shipping and logistics services provider GAC has signed an agreement with the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) to establish a contract logistics facility and office in the Ras Bufontas Free Zone.  
The agreement will play an important role in expanding the logistics offerings for QFZA and Qatar, strengthening supply chains and bolstering Qatar’s position as a global hub for trade.
The virtual signing ceremony was attended by HE the Minister of State and QFZA chairman Ahmad bin Mohamed al-Sayed, while the agreement was signed by Bjorn Engblom, GAC Group executive chairman & trustee (via videoconference), and Lim Meng Hui, QFZA CEO, in the presence of QFZA deputy CEO Abdulla al-Misnad.
The purpose-built 27,000sq m multi-user contract logistics facility, due to be completed in the first quarter of 2022, will be built from sustainable materials, partly fuelled by solar power, have several energy-saving features and uses recycled water in its operations. 
The warehouse will serve key sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), food and beverage (F&B), fashion, sports, energy, aerospace, and healthcare. It will maintain temperatures ranging from -18°C to +22°C to support cold chain operations and will feature dedicated mezzanine levels for value-added services activities, such as component assembly, repacking, and labelling to enhance customers’ supply chains.
GAC’s marine and offshore services will be well-supported by Marsa Port, the marine cluster in Qatar Free Zones. Its operations at the port will serve the energy companies active in the North Field expansion projects.
Hui said, “The role of the free zones is to partner with companies who bring services that our local and regional market needs, allowing them to grow and our economy to grow with them. To bring in the world’s best companies to the zones, we are focused on sectors where we have a strong value proposition for these companies.” 
Engblom added: “We have seen robust demand for GAC’s logistics services, including integrated solutions for the energy sector, and foresee even greater opportunities in Qatar in the lead-up to the global football sporting event in 2022 and as the North Field expansion projects progress.”
According to the recent Mordor Intelligence report about freight and logistics market, Qatar’s logistics sector is predicted to grow at an annual 7% in the coming years, outpacing the global average. 
This growth has been enabled by heavy investment in logistics infrastructure, which has helped establish Qatar as a major regional hub for logistics companies, and major national projects, including the North Field expansion and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which are helping to fuel the domestic demand for specialised logistics services.