DUBAI- Qatar Free Zones Authority on Monday signed an agreement with China's Yutong 600066.SS , one of the world's largest bus and coach suppliers, and local transport services provider Mowasalat, for the manufacture of electric buses in the zones.

The first e-buses will be produced for the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 and beyond and is part of a wider Qatari initiative to ensure 25% of the public bus network is powered by electricity in time for the tournament, the authority said.

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Susan Fenton) ((Saeed.Azhar@thomsonreuters.com; +971 44536787; Reuters Messaging: saeed.azhar.reuters.com@reuters.net))