Qatar / Support for Doha Metro Construction and Maintenance― Qatar’s First Subway System ―

NEXI has decided to provide Export Credit Insurance regarding a construction and maintenance contract for Doha Metro in Qatar, which was awarded to a consortium including four Japanese companies (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., and The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd.). NEXI’s insurance will cover Qatar’s political risk and credit risk of Qatar Railways Company (QRC), the counterparty to the contract. This will be the largest projects underwritten by NEXI in terms of underwritten amount.

1. Project outline － Construction of the first subway system in Qatar

Metro vehicle design (Provided by QRC)

　The Doha Metro Project is part of “Qatar National Vision 2030,” a national project announced by the government of Qatar in October 2008. The “Qatar National Vision 2030” is a national promotion program aiming for further development of Qatar, which includes several large-scale projects such as airport and port constructions.

Qatar’s first metro system is expected to bring about positive economic effects by providing an efficient transportation system for tourists and local workers, improving the social infrastructure, and creating jobs. As Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, infrastructure development is one of the country’s priority projects.

Exterior image of the station (Provided by QRC)

Interior image of the station (Provided by QRC)

2. Significance of NEXI’s support for this project － Support for Japanese infrastructure export

In recent years, Japan has strengthened infrastructure support in foreign countries. While international competition for railway projects is especially fierce, Japanese companies were awarded railway system contracts in India, UK, and Thailand. Given such success, NEXI believes that Japanese companies are quite competitive in infrastructure projects.

By supporting this project, NEXI would like to help Japanese train and system manufacturers to increase their name and product recognition in the Middle East.

NEXI will continue to actively support the expansion of overseas business by Japanese companies.