With the completion of the upcoming Al Wukair Logistics Park, the combined capacity of logistics infrastructure under GWC will see a significant increase of about 50 percent at nearly 4.5 million square metres, further reinforcing the company’s position as the leading logistics services provider in Qatar.
The Doha-based GWC was recently awarded the massive Al Wukair Logistics Park development project by Manateq (Economic Zone Company-Qatar), state-backed entity overseeing the national initiative to diversify Qatar’s economy by providing premium infrastructure within strategic economic zones, logistics parks and industrial complexes.
Under the contract agreement, GWC will invest QR1.5bn to Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) the development of the 1.48 square kilometer Al Wukair Logistics Park in a public-private-partnership deal with a 30-year lease tenure.
“Currently GWC is managing and developing over 3 million square metres (sqm) of logistics infrastructure in Qatar which is distributed strategically in all the important areas within the country that supports the shipping and warehousing needs that help industrial sectors from oil & gas to FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) to retail and others,” Mohammad Daoud, Senior Manager - Corporate Communications at GWC to The Peninsula recently.
Daoud added: “The ambitious Al Wukair Logistics Park will add nearly 1.5 million sqm which will be a big addition to the existing supply of logistics infrastructure within the country.”
He noted that the development of Al Wukair Logistics Park is a big responsibility on the part GWC. However, he also noted that the most interesting thing is that this logistics park is intending to be a competitor in the region offering very competitive prices and tangible value for the customers who will be operating from this upcoming hub, especially for the fact it will be catering to all segments of companies in the market— from startups to large enterprises— which are going to start and use it as a launching pad for their innovative ideas and businesses.
“This is also going to be offering great opportunities, for the first time, to light industry units in this logistics park. The first phase of the facility is expected to be operational within two years. It will be providing warehousing facilities for the dry, cold and chilled goods, in addition to light industrial workshops,” he added.
Daoud said that GWC is committed to developing logistics infrastructure that Qatar needs in line with country’s long term objective to become a sustainable and diversified economy by 2030.
Asked if the completion of Al Wukair Logistics Park will put a downward pressure to the cost of logistics services in Qatar, he refrained to comment, adding that the facility will add value to the market by providing opportunity to launch startups and new players in the market.
“The project is based on the market study about supply and demand. Most of their (Manateq) projects have reached occupancy of more than 80 percent. And we hope that this should be on the upward curve to create and satisfy demand,” he said.
