First steel manufacturer in the Gulf celebrates 30 years of industry excellence and satisfied clients

Doha, Qatar - 30 October 2008 - Qatar Steel, the Gulf region's first integrated steel manufacturer and one of the Top Four Steel Producers in the Middle East, celebrated its 30th anniversary on the evening of Monday, October 27th with a gala celebration at the Ritz Carlton. The event was attended by H.E. Yussef Hussein Kamal, Minister of Economy and Finance, Chairman of Qatar Steel, H.E. Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director and General Manager in addition to ambassadors, business men, Qatar Steel officials, executives, guests and a multitude of satisfied and grateful industry clients.

H.E. Yussef Hussein Kamal said in his speech in this occasion, "Qatar Steel has achieved 30 years of excellence with several international awards bestowed on it. These years were distinguished by difficult and rewarding endeavors which focused on development and expansion, seeking to maintain a leading position in the steel industry in Qatar and in the region."

"This economic and industrial boom has imposed on Qatar Steel the necessity to keep up with the factual trends and rational developments in the country. Our main aim has always been to support in building Qatar as a state of institutions, and contributing to the economy and growth; to stay in the lead and to maintain our position as a strong force in supporting the economic boom the country is experiencing, and above all to achieve the vision that His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the country, has designed and set forth," his Excellency added.

In his speech he thanked as well all those who have supported the journey of Qatar Steel since it started, especially the manpower for their commitment and their trust in the company's vision what lead Qatar Steel to realizing what it is striving for.

Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Thani welcomed the guests in his turn and thanked all efforts deployed to realize the company's aims, "Qatar Steel started its production in 1978, as it had the first full supply chain of steel in the Gulf area. Qatar Steel has been around for 30 years and did its best to develop product quality. Since that time and due to its consistent leadership and loyal manpower, Qatar Steel endeavored to develop its technical and qualitative production what lead the company to achieve high quality productions complying with international quality standards."

"Since 30 years, Qatar Steel has been providing and securing essential products for the development of Qatar and for its neighboring countries. The current industrial, commercial and construction boom paves the way for a bright and prosperous future for Qatar under the wise leadership of his Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar and his heir apparent. This is why Qatar Steel enjoys a good position and undertakes decisive procedures correspond to the current economic and industrial flow. We believe Qatar Steel is the basis for infrastructure in the country, supporting the community in its development and Qatar in its growth," he added. 

"Qatar Steel is characterized by its Qatari manpower who accompanied this growth since its initial days, and are considered to be the highest number among the industrial Qatari companies. During the past years, Qatar Steel has remarkably expanded through entering into new partnerships abroad, such as acquiring 25% in Gulf Industrial Investment Company (GIIC) which supplies iron ore pellets to the Gulf steel manufacturing industry, and 25% in the United Company of Bahrain, and acquiring Darfala Plant in the UAE by 100%.

Sheikh Nasser emphasized as well that Qatar Steel vision has no limits and aims to be universally recognized and to continue to be the first name in the region's steel industry by harnessing its assets and resources to achieve profitable growth, operational and organizational excellence, and good corporate citizenship.

During the celebration H.E. Yussef Hussein Kamal honored and awarded 9 loyal traders and 30 dedicated employees who accompanied Qatar Steel in its long journey.

Many clients praised Qatar Steel's commitment for providing personal attention for its customers and the company's desire to "walk together" with the client, despite the company's dynamic growth in an ever-expanding and competitive industry. Others noted the role Qatar Steel has played in the development of the region and in the industry itself and commended the steel producer's "experience and focused vision toward progress," naming the pioneering business "a revolutionary name in the steel industry."

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About Qatar Steel
Qatar Steel Company was formed in 1974 as the first integrated steel plant in the Arabian Gulf. It began its commercial steel production in 1978 and it became wholly owned by Qatar Industries, a Qatari company listed on the Doha Security Market.

Its Qatar-based mill is located in Mesaieed Industrial City, south of Doha and its facilities in Dubai, formed in 2003, and a subsidiary of the parent company Qatar Steel Company is situated in the Jebel Ali Free Zone near Dubai.  In an effort to meet the growing demand for steel in Qatar and across the Gulf region, Qatar Steel is making huge strides in steel production.  Its technically advanced expansion projects have been designed to produce world class products and help make Qatar Steel's presence felt on the steel map of the world.

Consistent with its pride in quality assurance its reinforcing bars produced in Mesaieed and Dubai have received several quality accreditations recognised by the industry, including UK CARES certification.

Its Mesaieed plant houses state of the art facilities including Midrex process based DRI/HBI Combo Mega Module, Electric Arc Furnaces, a continuous casting plant and rolling mills with the latest in automated features, well-equipped jetty and Quality Control laboratories.

Today the plant occupies an area of 1,354,601 square meters with a further area of 375,000 square meters already reserved for future development and expansion.  Qatar Steel employs a total workforce of over 2,000 people,

Both Qatar and Dubai facilities operates under the umbrella of the same corporate brand identity as Qatar Steel. 

 

© Press Release 2008