ZONES-

The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Samsung C&T have signed an MoU to collaborate in green and sustainable technologies, according to a QFZ press release. Under the MoU, signed during the Qatar-Republic of Korea Business Forum, the two parties aim to explore co-investment opportunities in green infrastructure within Qatar’s freezones. The partnership will target sustainability initiatives including energy transition, harnessing sustainable materials, and eco-friendly electronics.

ADDED + JOCIC sign MoU to attract Chinese industrial investments: The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company (JOCIC) have inked an MoU to enhance the emirate’s position in the industrial value chain and attract Chinese industrial investments, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, according to Wam. The MoU aims to achieve its objectives through the exchange of data, information, and technical expertise, Wam explains. The agreement also seeks to strengthen relations with China’s Jiangsu industrial hub and boost economic relations between China and Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah-Italy business roundtable held in Milan: The Sharjah FDI Office, in collaboration with Italy’s EFG Consulting, held the Sharjah-Italy business roundtable last week in Milan to explore investment avenues and enhancing trade relations between Sharjah and Italy, according to a Sharjah FDI Office statement. The roundtable, which covered areas including industry, business solutions, sustainability, and industrial technology, was headed by by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) CEO Ahmed Al Qaseer and Naser Al Khaja, head of Mission in the Republic of Italy, and CEO of Sharjah FDI Office Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, Wam reported.

AVIATION -

Tadweer + Abu Dhabi Airports to explore waste management solutions: The Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company (Tadweer) and Abu Dhabi Airports have signed an MoU to explore progressive solutions in waste management, according to a statement. The partnership will investigate how current waste management practices can be sustainably improved across the emirate's five airports. It aims to implement new policies including the diversion of waste from landfills and developing tailored monitoring and reporting.

RAIL-

Morocco allocates MAD 1.44 bn to fund research to expand its high-speed train to Marrakech and Agadir, Morocco World News reports, citing Morocco’s 2024 finance bill.The funds will go towards financing “studies and the acquisition of real estate for the extension for the high-speed train (TGV) network” by 2027, according to. No further details have been provided regarding the exact total cost of the project.

The details: Earlier this year, Morocco’s railway operator ONCF Director General Mohamed Rabie Khlie said that the expansion will be done in two phases, one from Kenitra to Marrakech (390 km), which will cost some USD 4 bn to construct, and another from Marrakech to Agadir (239 km) costing USD 4.8 bn, according to Morocco World News.

EVs-

Bahrain’s KPS inks agreement with ABB to increase EV charging stations in the countr: Bahrain’s Kanoo Power Solutions has inked a strategic partnership agreement with ABB to increase availability of ABB’s EV charging infrastructure in Bahrain, according to a press release.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • Bahrain’s Gulf Air will launch flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai starting January 2024. (Statement)
  • Jordan’s Aqaba Container Terminal has added an electric reach stacker to its handling equipment fleet as part of its decarbonisation plan. (Statement)
  • Emirati air and travel service provider Dnata will save some 650metric tonnes of carbon and 1.5 mn kilowatt hours of electricity annually, following the installation of a new technology — cooling as a service (CaaS) — at its Singapore Changi Airport facilities, reducing its cargo bases’s energy consumption by 54%. (Press release)
  • Etihad Airways will resume its daily flights to Nairobi, Kenya on 1 May 2024 using a modern Airbus A320. (Wam)
  • Sharjah Airport welcomed its inaugural Air Cairo flight yesterday, which is set to operate six-weekly flights. (Press Release)
  • Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and QatarEnergy have inked the final agreement for the construction of 17 LNG carriers worth USD 3.9 bn, following a preliminary agreement that was reached last month. (Statement)
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