COMPANY TAKES SELECTIVE STAND IN GULF STATES

From Ahmad Kamil Tahir

DOHA, Jan 22 (Bernama) - Gamuda Bhd, a construction company making inroads
in Qatar is taking an "active but selective" approach when bidding for
construction projects in the gulf states despite the good reputation of the oil
rich nation, its Senior General Manager K.W.Chan said Wednesday.

He said the company's RM2.6 billion worth of projects to design and build
airfield facilities, tunnels and detention ponds for the new Doha International
Airport have been 70 per cent completed and due for completion by February next
year.

"Another project, the RM760 million Dukhan Highway West, a 42 km for lane
dual carriageway is now 95 per cent complete and should be ready by June this
year", he told the Malaysian media accompanying Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi on his two-day visit to Qatar.

Chan said the highway had five grade separated interchanges and associated
structures and seven camel underpass.

He said the company was bidding for the second phase of the highway for
which the tender would be out next month. The contract is worth more than RM1
billion.

"We are confident of getting the job since we are already established and
had been successful in implementing the first phase. Actually we are
pre-qualified for the second phase since we are already equipped with facilities
like heavy machinery to implement the project," he added.

Chan said the company was also building the RM650 million worth Sitra
causeway bridge in Bahrain.

He said beside tendering in Qatar and Bahrain, the company was also eyeing
potential construction projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"We will be active in the Middle East, but we are taking a selective
approach when bidding for projects to keep up with our good reputation," he
added.

On the massive developments in the gulf states like Qatar he said that
Malaysian companies should not be left behind in bidding for development
projects especially in the construction industry.

"The key development projects like in Qatar are funded by the government and
the gulf countries have huge cash reserves and this would enable them to
implement many huge projects without any problem," he added.
-- BERNAMA