Steel demand set to surge in Arab world - QC-Sites

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Qatar SITES
ConstruCtion
Austrian Ambassador lauds DOKA’s regional
commitment and role in promoting bilateral ties
Doka Gulf FZE, the UAE
subsidiary of Doka
Industry GmbH, one
of the world’s leading
companies in formwork
technology, announced its relocation
to a newly built 50,000
square metre facility in the Jebel
Ali Free Zone.
The new location houses the
largest Doka formwork ex-stock
in the Middle East and provides
ample space for Doka’s
Ready-to-Use service, product
inspection and reconditioning
services.
An official grand opening ceremony
was held on March 29,
2011with dignitaries from the
Doka Group, its parent company
Umdasch Group, the
Austrian Embassy to the UAE,
and Jebel Ali Free Zone in attendance,
including Umdasch
Group CEO, Dr. Andreas J. Ludwig
and Doka Group CEO Josef
Kurzmann.
The Austrian Ambassador to
the UAE, Dr. Julius Lauritsch,
welcomed the economic driving
force of Doka for the Austrian
economy as a whole and especially
for the economic relations
between Austria and the UAE.
Furthermore he stressed that
Doka’s local commitment to increase
its presence in the UAE
is a positive sign for expanding
bilateral relations.
Salma Hareb, Chief Executive
Officer, Economic Zones World,
the parent company of Jafza, on
the occasion said, “Doka has
an established regional footprint.
The new move reflects
foresight on the company’s part
and confidence in Jafza and
Dubai’s strong standing as the
regional trading hub and centre
for infrastructure solutions. We
hope the facility helps the company
rapidly expand its market
share and reach a wider base
of clients”. Doka was recognized
by Salma Hareb with a
congratulatory plaque.
Since its 1958 beginnings in
Austria, Doka Group has experienced
rapid growth and
currently operates with annual
turnover of 762 million Euros,
employing around 5300 people
in 165 sales and logistics operations
across the globe.
Doka Group CEO, Josef Kurzmann
says“ We have had a
presence in the Middle East
since the 1980s, beginning in
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and
have always enjoyed long-term
relations with our clients.
Kurzmann adds that the UAE facility
is not only one of the company’s
biggest subsidiaries, but
a critical part of its global business.
“We are still in the process
of expanding throughout
the region, with Oman as the
latest addition. We are proud to
have a very strong presence in
Qatar as well.”
“Doka does not follow the customers.
We try to be a step
ahead, and enter those markets
where projects are coming
up, and then when the international
construction companies
look to go there, we already
have a strong presence. With
nine Middle East warehouse
facilities and rental parks, combined
with highly committed
staff, Doka is a solid formwork
partner well prepared and experienced
in dealing with any
construction challenges”, he
emphasizes.
In Kurzmann’s opinion Middle
East is a keen adopter of new
technology.
“This region is well-known for innovation.
It is sometimes even
easier to introduce technology
here, especially in the UAE and
Qatar than it is in Europe. This
is because, even with the low
labour costs, there is recognition
of the added benefits offered
by technology. Construction
companies have realised
that labour incurs additional
expenses such as accommodation,
transportation and visas,
which can be offset by highly
adaptable and cost-efficient
formwork solutions.”
Doka is looking forward to the
opportunities offered by Qatar’s
infrastructure development in
the run-up to the 2022 FIFA
Soccer World Cup.
“We hope that the responsible
organisations do start early
enough, as there is time pressure.
The stadiums will look
like what we have in Europe
or South Africa, with the most
modern architectural designs.
So they need fast technologies,
particularly in the case of formwork,
and hopefully we will secure
a significant portion of that
work. We are quite well-known
in Qatar, which will stand us in
good stead” , summarises Kurzmann.
He also reveals that new products
such as Staxo 40 have already
been deployed in the Qatari
market, with a favourable
response from contractors.
Doka Qatar has marked its
presence in the market by numerous
building and infrastructure
projects. The company has
too recently moved to a new
15
location at the Mesaieed Industrial
Area in order to better support
the growing demand for its
innovative products and service
offerings. The Formwork Experts
are planning to invite their
partners to an Open Day to be
organized in the new premises.
The event will provide a great
opportunity to present the company
and its new products and
service capabilities.