Source: www.rta.ae
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has recently received Her Excellency Nicole Bricq, French Minister of Foreign Trade, and the accompanying delegation comprising 40 representatives of top French firms operating in roads and transport sectors. During the gathering, the two parties explored prospects of cooperation and sharing expertise between the RTA and French firms operating in rail, roads and transport sectors as well as reviewing road and mass transit projects the RTA is contemplating in future.
At the outset of the meeting, Al Tayer welcomed H.E. Michel Miraillet, French Ambassador to the UAE, and H.E. Eric Giraud-Telme, French Consul-General in Dubai, and commended the excellent relationships between the UAE and the Republic of France which contributed to an increase in trading exchange between the two countries, growth of joint investments in various fields and more tourist delegation visits between the two friendly peoples. Al Tayer added that he would be looking forward to see more French companies doing business in the UAE particularly in roads and transportation sector.
During the gathering, Al Tayer highlighted the investment prospects open for the private sector to engage in road and transit system projects the RTA will be considering to undertake up to 2020. The plans drawn up, he added, account for the projected number of inhabitants and the need to address the requirements of hosting the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. Such plans comprise the construction of hundreds of kilometers of main roads and bridges, crossings over Dubai Creek and several ring roads around the existing and new development and activity hubs. Key projects to be released this year include contracts related to the Dubai Water Canal Project, Al-Ittihad Bridge Project which will be tendered by the end of this year, and future projects encompassing additional crossings over Dubai Creek.
“The forthcoming years will see the construction and operation of rail projects spanning both the metro and tram costing billions of dirhams including the extension of the Dubai Metro Red Line to the exhibition zone of Expo 2020, extending the Dubai Metro Green Line, and constructing the second phase of the Dubai Tram Project. Future projects offer a great opportunity for companies to take part in tenders released by the RTA; which is also mulling the adoption of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in undertaking projects with a view to providing attractive aspects to a host of projects that prompt the private sector to take the initiative in undertaking and funding them against benefiting from their returns over the contracted period,” elaborated Al Tayer.
Her Excellency Nicole Bricq, French Minister of Foreign Trade, was impressed by the projects carried out by the RTA, especially mass transit projects such as the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Tram, as well as public transit modes, and praised RTA’s speedy construction of projects in record time.
“France seeks to strengthen relations with the United Arab Emirates and promote trade to higher levels,” she added, noting that the meeting was a good opportunity to exchange experiences between French companies & institutions and the RTA in constructing and managing the infrastructure of road and mass transit sector.” More info
