Published: November 22, 2009
BQDRI and PROJACS INTERNATIONAL sign MOU to support the implementation of sustainability
DOHA, Qatar - (BUSINESS WIRE) - BARWA and Qatari Diar Research Institute (BQDRI), that focus on studies
about new knowledge in sustainability and its application, and PROJACS
INTERNATIONAL, the pioneer Arab company, specialized in
Project/Construction Management & Training fields, announced their
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for building strong
cooperation and partnership which aim to support the implementation of
sustainability practices through adopting the Qatar Sustainability
Assessment System (QSAS). The signing ceremony was made at a press
conference held alongside MEED Green building & Sustainability
Conference at the Address Hotel, Dubai Marina (Dubai - U.A.E.) between
BQDRI Chairman & Managing Director, Dr. Youssef Mohammed Al-Horr, and
Deputy CEO of Projacs International Company, Mr. Ashraf Al-Garf; and
attended by senior officials from the two companies.
This MoU will help in building a strong cooperation and strategic
relationship between the two companies, promoting QSAS and encouraging
other companies and real estate developers to adopt it. BQDRI seeks to
attract leading organizations and institutions to cooperate in
delivering consultancy services, training and educational programs
directly related to sustainability and its practices. Relying on its
widespread offices and deep knowledge and experience in the market,
Projacs International, in association with BQDRI, will promote QSAS to
different real estate companies, equivalent to what BARWA Real Estate
and QATARI DIAR did, aiming to preserve the environment and adopt green
building practices in new projects.
Commenting on the MoU, Dr. Youssef Al-Horr said: "This memorandum
with Projacs International will open new horizons of business and
development to achieve our objectives. I am confident that our
partnership with companies like PROJACS INTERNATIONAL will add great
value to what BQDRI has done. This cooperation will encourage the
adoption and implementation of QSAS in Qatar and abroad, especially as
PROJACS INTERNATIONAL has a strong regional and global presence, as well
as deep knowledge in the real estate markets."
"We work to establish qualitative initiatives to lead the real estate
development sector in Qatar and the region, and to encourage all
building professionals and engineers in Qatar by providing them with
suitable tools and practices for developing and implementing the concept
of sustainability," Dr. Al-Horr added.
Representing PROJACS INTERNATIONAL, Eng. Ashref Al-Garf said: "The
MoU with BQDRI represents a qualitative step for the real estate sector
in Qatar and the region. Our partnership will allow us to provide the
highest level of professional Project Management services. Our existence
in a large number of countries will help in introducing QSAS to the
world and adopting it as one of the leading global assessment systems
which meets the needs of the region. PROJACS INTERNATIONAL; through its
various and diversified services in management, training and
development; will help in providing additional means to improve the
awareness in QSAS."
BARWA and Qatari Diar Research Institute (BQDRI) first introduced QSAS
as the "Middle East's first performance-based Green Building Design
Rating System" at the Global City Sustainable Urban Development Forum in
Abu Dhabi in April 2009. BQDRI confirms its commitment in continuing
this march and supporting Qatar's role as "the capital of sustainable
development in the Middle East" , allowing Qatar to take the lead in
addressing regional and national energy efficiency policies, reducing
carbon emissions, minimizing ecological impacts, and ensuring high
indoor environmental quality.
Following BARWA and Qatari Diar's announcement of adopting QSAS in Doha
last week, BQDRI and its partners demonstrate their full commitment and
ability in contributing to accomplish the objectives of Qatar National
Vision 2030, in terms of sustainable development. By leading the Qatari
real estate sector in accordance to the concepts of sustainability
development; BQDRI, BARWA Real Estate, QATARI DIAR and PROJACS
INTERNATIONAL are the first to implement green building concepts based
on QSAS which was classified as the "Middle East's first integrated and
performance-based Green Building Rating System" .
It is worth mentioning that both BARWA and QATARI DIAR have announced
adopting QSAS in all future projects in a press conference held last
week. Lusail's CEO (QATARI DIAR) and BARWA's President of Developments
in Qatar assured that the adoption of QSAS comes to take the lead in
following the modern global trends in real estate industry, taking into
consideration the compliance of these initiatives with the legislation
of Qatar. Besides, they asked consultancy offices to hurry and train
their employees on QSAS and green building standards.
Established in Kuwait in 1984, PROJACS INTERNATIONAL has gained a
reputation for providing the highest level of professional Project
Management services initially in the Arabian Gulf and later throughout
the Middle East, North America, Asia, and Europe. Projacs
International's corporate headquarters is located in Bahrain, while
Middle Eastern and international operations are also conducted in
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt,
Sudan, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Bosnia
Herzegovina, Guinea, Pakistan, Oman, USA and Canada.
"Today, PROJACS INTERNATIONAL conducts local and international
management seminars and conferences covering a wide range of topics and
subjects that will support introducing QSAS to the world. PROJACS
INTERNATIONAL trainers, considered authorities in their field and
practitioners at the same time with experience in the Middle East and
internationally, will establish a strong base in training engineers and
professionals on how to implement QSAS. PROJACS INTERNATIONAL is now the
most qualified and successful training and development companies in the
Gulf Region, the Middle East, as well as other parts of the world. The
majority of Projacs International courses are accredited by professional
institutes and international universities," Al-Garf stated.
Demonstrating the importance of QSAS and its growing reputation in the
region, Dr. Al-Horr was invited to be a Keynote Speaker at MEED
Conference for Green Buildings and Sustainability held in Dubai from 17
to 19 November. Dr. Al-Horr will focus in his speech on QSAS and its
goals in preserving the environment and its adoption of sustainability
and green building standards.
"Developing QSAS based on local needs while leveraging best practices
is a definite advantage, especially for regions where environmental,
economic, social, and cultural conditions are unlike other areas in the
world, factors such as desertification, scarcity of water, pedestrian
connectivity, and cultural heritage/identity are either omitted or
unsuitably addressed. Among other primary QSAS advantages is learning
from established global best practices, all categories, criteria, and
measurements are defined to be performance-based and quantifiable, a
flexible scoring method which has overcome the limitations of other
international rating systems, and complete control over the development,
customization, and future modifications or expansion of the QSAS rating
system. QSAS differs in its foundation essence from the other systems in
the region based on imported global systems" Dr. Al-Horr
commented.
"BARWA & QATARI DIAR's adoption of QSAS will allow both real estate
conglomerates to implement an advanced and integrated concept of green
building sustainability, and to take the lead in addressing regional and
national environmental challenges. According to this, I ask consultancy
offices to train their employees in implementing QSAS principles, in
compliance with BARWA's directions to implement sustainability
principles in all of its future projects." added Dr. Al-Horr
"BQDRI is fully committed in supporting Qatar's actions to protect
the natural environment. The accurate balance between economic and
social needs and the conditions of preserving the environment, which we
consider as a national duty determining our strategic options in this
field, makes the environment more important, especially when we support
QSAS through legislation and contribute in transforming the
sustainability concept from optional implementation to mandatory,"
concluded Dr. Al-Horr.
QSAS has already gained an Excellence Award of "Outstanding Contribution
to Sustainable development in the real estate" at the International Real
Estate Finance Summit 2009 held on the 4th and 5th October in London -
United Kingdom. The forum was attended by leaders of real estate
industry and financial services, as well as political and business
figures. QSAS award was received by Dr. Al-Horr from Mrs. Liz Peace, CEO
of British Property Federation.
In compliance with BARWA and Qatari Diar's adoption of green building
principles, BQDRI announces QSAS workshops from 22 to 24 November, in
cooperation with experts and researchers from T.C. Chan Center for
Building Simulation and Energy Studies at the University of
Pennsylvania. The training and developing workshop will focus on
encouraging professionals, consultants and engineers from the real
estate industry to be more creative when designing and constructing
sustainable buildings which have less environmental impact and address
the needs of sustainability in Qatar and the region. The workshop will
provide participants with the latest information on green building
principles and practices, as well as their method of implementation in
Qatar, in terms of green views, water, energy, building systems and
lightening.
Following the November QSAS workshops, all July QSAS workshop attendees
will sit for the accreditation exam to become "QSAS - CERTIFIED
GREEN PROFESSIONAL " 25 November 2009 from 8 am till 12 30
pm, at BARWA Knowledge Building at D-Ring Road.
Source: ME
NewsWire
Notes to the Editor
Go Green with BQDRI
The BARWA and Qatari Diar Research Institute (BQDRI); a joint
venture between Barwa Knowledge, Subsidiary of Barwa Real Estate, and
Lusail Real Estate Development Company, Subsidiary of Qatari Diar Real
Estate Investment Company; is a non-governmental organization whose
purpose is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building
practices in Qatar.
BQDRI aims to build and strengthen a strong and vibrant local, regional
and global consortium and network of respected research institutions,
consulting and technology companies, real estate and construction
companies, governmental and professional organizations that have genuine
interest and commitment to support the strategic objectives of the
Institute to address the environmental challenges and empower the
construction society to apply sustainable applications and practices.
Our vision is for Qatar to be a leader in the field of sustainable
development, design and construction, and for BQDRI is to be one
of the driving forces behind this transformation.
Our Objectives
-
Knowledge Creation - BQDRI will engage in research relates to
the development of knowledge and processes whose applications range
from the building to the urban scale.
-
Research-based Consultancy - BQDRI will offer research based
consultancy services on existing buildings and new construction
projects as well as testing simulations and system integration.
-
Information Dissemination - BQDRI will provide educational
opportunities for professionals through teaching & Research, training
& workshops and publications.
-
Business Development & Administration - BQDRI will
strategically partnering with local, regional and international
organizations to develop strategic and innovative solutions in the
fields of Renewable, Materials & Products Manufacturing, Recycling and
Transportation
Projacs International
Project & Construction Management
Training
& Development
With its founding in 1984, in Kuwait, PROJACS INTERNATIONAL has gained a
reputation for providing the highest level of professional Project
Management services initially in the Arabian Gulf and later throughout
the Middle East, North America, Asia, and Europe. Since then, through
innovation, earning the highest respect from an impressive roster of
clients, and entering into several important strategic alliances, the
firm has been propelled into the international market place. PROJACS
INTERNATIONAL has successfully completed 300 projects while achieving a
growth rate of 36% per annum over the past 20 years. Projacs
International's corporate headquarters is located in Bahrain, while
Middle Eastern and International operations are conducted in Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan,
Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Bosnia Herzegovina,
Guinea, Pakistan, Oman, USA and Canada. PROJACS INTERNATIONAL was one of
the first companies in the gulf to recognize the benefits to clients of
professionally applied project and construction management techniques.
With it, training and development came into existence to further enhance
and optimize the construction industries awareness of project
management. Today, PROJACS INTERNATIONAL sponsors and conducts local and
international seminars and conferences covering 'management' amongst a
wide range of topics and subjects. PROJACS INTERNATIONAL trainers are
considered authorities in their field and practitioners at the same
time, with experience in the Middle East and internationally. More than
1,500 training programs and conferences presented by over 350 trainers
for 30,000 professional attendees, resulting in PROJACS INTERNATIONAL
now being the most qualified and successful training and development
companies in the Gulf Region, the Middle East, as well as other parts of
the world. The majority of Projacs courses are accredited by
professional institutes and international universities.
BARWA Knowledge
Bassel Hanbali - Marketing & Business Development
Director
+9746542099
bassel.hanbali@barwa.com.qa
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