His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam began his first day of the State Visit to Qatar Saturday morning with a visit to the Ras Laffan Industrial City, located at the centre of the Arabian Gulf on Qatar's North Gas Field.
It accommodates a large number of gas-based industries including liquefaction, processing and export, petrochemicals, refining of condensate and the Ras Laffan Port.
Accompanying His Majesty was Mr Yousof Hussein Kamal, Qatar's Minister of Finance, Economy and Industry.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Mr Misnad Al Misnad, Director of the Ras Laffan Industrial City. His Majesty was led to the Ras Laffan City Auditorium to watch a video presentation on the activities and facilities of the industrial city. After the presentation, His Majesty proceeded to sign the guest book and received a souvenir from the Director of Ras Laffan.
His Majesty ended his visit with a bus tour of the Ras Laffan Port, the largest LNG exporting facility in the world. During the tour, His Majesty was briefed on the activities, services and facilities of the port.
In the afternoon, His Majesty visited the Aspire Academy, a sports education institute developing young athletes into Olympic champions using high-tech methods and equipment. Its campus hosts the largest sports dome in the world, the venue for the coming Asian Games.
Upon arrival His Majesty was greeted by Dr Thomas Flock, Director-General of the Aspire Academy.
During the visit, His Majesty toured facilities of the academy and was briefed by the Director-General on the services and activities available there. While touring the facilities, His Majesty witnessed a gymnastics competition involving children from Jordan, Malaysia and Qatar.
His Majesty also received a souvenir from the Aspire Academy and consented to sign the guest book.
The evening's itinerary for His Majesty included a presentation by the Ashghal Company and the Qatar Diar Real Estate Investment Company on the development projects of Qatar. It was held at the Al Mirqab Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by his Mr Yousof Hussein Kamal, Engineer Zayed Mansoor Al-Khayarin, Principal of Ashghal, Engineer Ahmad Sultan Al Kuwary, Assistant General Manager of Technical Affairs of Public Works Authority and Mr Nasser Hassan AL Ansari, Head of Executive Office of Qatari.
The Ashghal, also known as Qatar's Public Works Authority, is an autonomous body set up to oversea all projects related to infrastructure and public amenities. The Qatar Diar is a real estate investment company owned by the State of Qatar's High Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment and founded to foster property development and investment opportunities in Qatar.
The presentation covered several ongoing and proposed development and investment projects undertaken by the two companies, including highways, sewerage and drainage systems, hospitals, schools, the Doha Central Park, a games village, ports, hotels and golf courses.
- Borneo Bulletin
(17th Apr 2006)
