RAJESH MISHRA

DOHA QATAR seeks advanced and innovative technological solutions from Japan to meet its current and future water needs and to develop a sustainable infrastructure as the country prepares for the 2022 World Cup, Chairman of Administrative Control and Transparency Authority HE Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah said on Sunday.

Inaugurating a seminar on ‘Infrastructure projects and water and wastewater management technology in Qatar’, organised by the Japanese government in close association with the Japanese Embassy in Doha, Attiyah said that the door was wide open for Japanese companies.

“The seminar addresses two vital issues — infrastructure, which is the backbone of our development and water, which is key to life.

With so many infrastructural activities going on across the country and challenges faced in meeting growing demand for water, the seminar is timely as it would give Japanese companies a chance to prove their competitive edge over others,” Attiyah said.

“Even as Qatar and Japan celebrate four decades of diplomatic ties this year, Qatar wants Japan to play a more active role in its development activities. The winning of the right to host 2022 FIFA World Cup has injected new dynamism to the country,” he added.

Emphasising the need for innovative technologies Attiyah said that Qatar was spending billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, which include transport, health, power and tourism, and added that with the country’s complete dependence on desalinated water for consumption, water was the most precious commodity in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice- Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kyoichi Tsushima thanked Qatar for its help during the devastating Tsunami and earthquake that shook the East Asian nation last year and said that Japan’s relationship with Qatar had further strengthened in the recent times.

“We aim to develop future collaboration with Qatar on a number of infrastructure projects. Japan along with Korea hosted 2002 FIFA World Cup and we can share our expertise with Qatar to ensure successful hosting of 2022 World Cup. We also want to highlight our role in Dubai’s Metro project,” Tsushima said.