Manateq sees investment growth in industrial, logistics projects; records 3,700 investors in 2022

Manateq, Qatar’s economic zones company, has been witnessing “huge investments” in areas, such as industrial and logistics, as well as growth in its roster of investors, which currently stands at 3,700, according to chief executive officer Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi.“As much as possible, Manateq aims to attract international and local investors, and we are finding different solutions for investors in sectors, such as industrial, logistics, and trading, including our latest solution – ‘open yard’.“Open yard is Manateq’s new solution for many large-scale construction companies that have completed projects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” al-Kaabi told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Project Qatar, which will run until June 9 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).Al-Kaabi explained that Manateq opened huge plots of land for its open yard solution, giving companies space for construction materials, equipment, or a ready area for new projects.“This also provides them with avenues for new project opportunities in the future in Qatar, so there is a huge investment in industrial, logistics area, and finding different solutions for investors. Manateq is happy to be part of this growth in investments with direct investors or BOT (build-operate-transfer) projects,” he said.Manateq sponsors four warehousing parks to complement its logistics activities. The warehousing parks under Manateq were awarded by tender to developers who oversee the management and operations under a BOT process. The warehousing parks offer prime locations comprising various sized warehouses and adjoining support facilities, “Earlier, Manateq awarded four projects worth approximately QR3.8mn spanning 2mn sq m to different investors who built their warehouses and kept them ready for investments, such as those targeting ready-made warehouses.“We are happy to see this project, which is approximately 1.5mn sq m in size. They have already finished Phase 1, which is about 50% of the project, and it is ready for lease with around 80% occupancy before the World Cup,” al-Kaabi said.Al-Kaabi also emphasised that post-FIFA World Cup, a shift is expected towards sectors, such as trading and industrial “so that businesses can continue finding different opportunities.”“The government is looking for different solutions and one of the most successful projects is the BOT, where there is sharing between the government and local investors. In warehousing, we have huge projects with more than QR5bn in investments between the private sector and Manateq in terms of BOT projects,” al-Kaabi added.