The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with a leading Indian body of industry to boost the participation of Indian companies in the 2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar infrastructure projects.

The MoU was signed with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani to New Delhi, where he led delegation-level talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

CII is a non-government, non-profit, industry-led and managed organisation targeting growth and development of India, one of the world’s fastest growing major economies.

The MoU will provide a framework for Indian companies seeking to undertake projects, including in infrastructure, for the delivery of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, said a statement from SC.  

Earlier this year, SC announced Chennai-headquartered Indian construction giant Larsen & Toubro as the main contractor in an Indo-Qatar joint venture for the construction of the 40,000-capacity Al Rayyan Stadium, which will host matches up to the quarter-final stages of the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

In October, the first pouring of concrete at Al Rayyan Stadium site took place, five weeks ahead of schedule

SC assistant secretary general Nasser Al Khater said Qatar looked at India as a natural strategic partner.

"The relationship between India and Qatar goes beyond football, it goes back decades," he observed. "The Indian population and community has been an integral part of society for decades in Qatar, and has helped build this country and make it what it is today," he noted.-TradeArabia News Service