Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag), has entered into a deal with Prodrive, one of the world’s leading automotive technology and motorsport businesses, to build and develop a cutting-edge automotive industry value chain in the country.

Qatar Ag is a company responsible for developing a cutting-edge automotive technology industry cluster in Qatar.

Announcing the deal at the 2012 Qatar International Motor Show, Qatar Ag said the two companies will jointly work for the development and production of advanced carbon fibre composite automotive parts and assemblies.

'We’re very pleased to be in partnership with a prestigious global leader such as Prodrive and to be part of the International Qatar Motor Show which is kick-starting this year with the futuristic theme of new transportation solutions,' remarked Ghanim Bin Saad Al Saad, the chairman of Qatar Ag.

'This is truly a perfect platform for us at Qatar AG to announce this MoU which represents our first milestone in our aim to build and develop a cutting-edge automotive industry value chain in Qatar and turn the country into an international hub for the technologies of the future by 2020 by investing in the manufacturing of innovative automotive components which are witnessing increasing demand worldwide.'

'We firmly believe that Qatar AG will help foster the growth of a diversified socioeconomic system in Qatar and one which relies on a knowledge-based industry and create valuable job opportunities for Qatar’s youth,' said Al Saad.

'We are also confident in the path we are following to place our nation on the world’s automotive production map of the future,” he added.
 
According to him, Qatar Ag and Prodrive have identified a significant opportunity to combine their respective skills, experiences and resources to meet the rapidly expanding demand for lightweight, cost-effective carbon composite-based products in numerous markets around the world.

'Carbon fibre composites combine carbon fibre with a range of composite materials such as kevlar and glass fibres which are increasingly being utilised in numerous applications across a wide range of industry sectors such as aerospace, marine and automotive,' he explained.

'These materials are earmarked with low weight, flexibility and very high tolerance of temperatures and corrosion, turning them into a strong alternative and a complement to traditional materials such as aluminium and steel with a weight advantage of 40 and 60 per cent respectively against these traditional materials,' he added.

Applications are well established in the sports industries, particularly motorsport, and are rapidly extending into the aerospace, marine, automotive and wind energy generator.

Ahmed Sorour, the Qatar Ag CEO said, “We have been working diligently for three years to identify the optimum opportunities to achieve our mission of building an automotive cluster in Qatar by 2020 in line with the Qatar national vision for 2030.'

'We place very high importance on investing into knowledge-based industries which come at the forefront of the new automotive value chain, and particularly when Qatar’s resources offer a significant competitive advantage to our customers,' he added.

David Richards, chairman and CEO of Prodrive said: “I am very pleased to enter into this agreement with Qatar Ag, in a field that is playing an increasingly vital role in the future of so many industry sectors.'

'Prodrive and I have a long and successful history working with Qatar and this is a further example of how we can combine our respective skills, experiences and technology, to meet the growing needs of our customers,' he added.

Clive Scrivener, chief operating officer said: “Prodrive has developed and produced carbon composite products for 20 years, through our automotive and motorsport activities.'

'Our current carbon composite business in the UK, which represents a key element of our global portfolio of Group activities, is already a leading supplier to numerous high-profile vehicle manufacturers and demand continues to grow,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service