Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is the best solution for the speedy implementation of affordable infrastructure development across the Middle East, said a statement from Besix Group, the largest construction company in Belgium with operations in the region.  

Besix is celebrating 40 years of its achievements in Sharjah, where the company implemented its first big project - Sharjah National Cement Factory - in 1975 through a subsidiary Six Construct.

Since then, Besix has completed more than 30 projects in the emirate. The Belgian group is now looking to evolve its business in Sharjah by diversifying beyond designing and building world-class facilities, including infrastructure.

A grand function has been organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, by Besix to mark its '40 Years of Achievements' at The Jawaher Convention Centre in Sharjah.

Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the chairman of Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, and other senior government officials are taking part.

The company is increasingly focused on owning and operating infrastructure assets through public-private partnerships with governments in Europe and the Middle East, said a senior official at the event.

"Through our subsidiary, Six Construct, it has been our privilege to partner with Sharjah in this wonderful journey of development since our first project here in 1975. We are looking forward to expanding our partnership in the years to come, and hope to evolve our relationship with Sharjah to become an investor in and operator of different types of infrastructure facilities," remarked Besix senior vice president Ghassan Ejjeh.

According to him, Besix and its subsidiaries have led a number of public-private partnerships (PPP), including in Europe and the Middle East. Sharjah too has been at the forefront of PPPs with the development of the UAE's leading waste-management company, Bee'ah, he added.

Pierre Sironval, the managing director of Six Construct, Gulf Region, said: "Infrastructure demands across the world are changing rapidly, and we at Besix are at the forefront of this evolution in our industry."

"We are moving Six Construct beyond designing and building world-class facilities to operating, managing and even owning assets through Besix, in partnership with and for the benefit of governments seeking to give their people efficient, cost-effective infrastructure services to support economic and social development," he noted.
 
Lauding the Sharjah leadership for its support, Sironval said: "We look forward to making an invaluable contribution to another 40 years of spectacular development in this great emirate."-TradeArabia News Service