The British Ambassador Nicholas Hopton addressing the Eversheds Construction and Engineering Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha yesterday. Salim Matramkot
by Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: Challenges related to hosting the 2022 Fifa World Cup such as the summer or winter “timing”, “money involved” and hosting the games in two cities, can be overcome “only with the support and engagement of international partners”, the British Ambassador, Nicholas Hopton, said yesterday.
“Let me make my bold statement on these points, given all the controversies about timing, money involved and other elements around holding the World Cup, essentially in one city rather than two in this part of the world, and in heat which will range between 40-50 degrees (Celsius), we can overcome all these challenges.”
Delivering welcome speech at ‘The Eversheds Construction and Engineering Conference’, Hopton reiterated that challenges related to hosting the World Cup and ambitious objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 can be achieved with the help of experience and expertise of Britain which hosted the 2012 Olympic Games successfully.
“Qatar National Vision 2030 is one of the extraordinary ambitious documents published by any other country. Like the World Cup, it (2030 Vision) is also possible to realise only with the support and engagement of international partners. “I am confident that the amount of experience, expertise and international intelligence being put towards making this a success will overcome those challenges.”
He said the UK firmly stands behind Qatar facing challenges. “We are supporting the Qatari friends in delivering not just the World Cup, but also the wider development agenda set out in the previous Emir’s (the Father Emir) 2030 Vision for his country.”
Aiming at playing a leading role in preparations for the World Cup, he said: “With our experience of hosting the 2012 Olympics, which is acknowledged by many as one of the most successful, if not the most successful Olympics of modern history, the UK is very well placed to support Qatar to realise its vision.”
Headquartered in London, Eversheds is a British multinational law firm, the first global law firm to be a licensee at Qatar Financial Centre. It organised the conference to discuss challenges related to the construction sector.
Present were Richard Ward, Head of Construction and Engineering, Eversheds, for the Middle East; Ahmad Ansari, Private Contracts Adviser, and other guests.
In oblique reference to key challenges faced by contracting companies due to delays in construction projects, security bonds, advance payment issues and other legal problems, Hopton said: “With my conversations with the Qatari Prime Minister, ministers across the spectrum, in all areas they are focusing to address challenges we are going to discuss this afternoon. “The Emir, the Prime Minister downwards, they all know that the UK has something special to offer, which is going to meet challenges faced by Qatar.”
On Qatar-UK relations, he said: “Qatar likes working with the UK and the UK is very comfortable working with Qatar. So the British embassy in Qatar is ready to extend support, work and advice to companies in the best possible ways.”
The Peninsula
