Irish Construction professionals seek Russian Olympic construction job opportunities

In 2007, China was the coffee shop of Irish business (In Beijing you couldn’t turn a corner without bumping into someone from Ireland looking for a business opportunity). In 2008, the UAE and Saudi Arabia came in to focus, and numerous construction professionals took advantage of good value long haul flights to seek out opportunities in the Middle East. But in 2009 it may be Russia that becomes the next haunt of the somewhat smaller army of Irish developers, architects and engineers who are looking for the next big deal. And there is still plenty of business to be done.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) has become the advance guard of Irish industry, looking to build sustainable business relationships for Irish firms on foreign soils and sands. EI recently brought a group of Irish architects and engineers on trips to Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The delegation of Irish engineers and architects that traveled to Russia visited the little known resort of Sochi, in Southern Russia, which will host the Winter Olympics in 2014. There is after all €2.2bn in deals up for grabs in Sochi.

The group that traveled to Saudi Arabia was looking at ways to get involved in Saudi Arabia’s Grand Designs including an environmental city.

EI, in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland (RIAI) and Engineers Ireland has embarked on a number of “Leadership for Growth” programmes aimed at exporting the expertise garnered by Irish construction firms, Irish architects and Irish engineers in the past few years.

EI says nearly 100 company executives are completing the Enterprise Ireland’s international selling programme, which is made up of eight training modules.

See also Exporting the Tiger


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Oman – Tourism and infrastructure development offer construction jobs for years to come

The Sultanate of Oman, one of the six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, is looking to tourism to sustain its economy in to the future.

In recent years, a change in law regarding foreign freehold ownership has resulted in foreigners being allowed to own property in designated integrated tourism areas. Land prices in Oman are estimated to be roughly 50 per cent of those in Dubai, and 65 per cent of those in Bahrain.
In terms of real estate the recent trend has been towards ownership of apartments. In the commercial property sector the recent increased movement of foreign firms in to Oman has resulted in a major shortages in commercial properties. However, the retail success of neighbouring Dubai has meant that the Omani retail sector is developing less quickly.

Construction projects
Oman has its fair share of ambitious development schemes, and much is hinged on a Development Plan that will see many of these schemes completed before 2020.
Of the large-scale developments currently under construction, the €20bn Blue City has to be the most exciting. But The Wave, Shalam Yiti and Oman’s first rail line have also been grabbing the headlines in recent years.

• Blue City was launched in 2005 and is being built on over 35sq km of some of Oman’s most breathtaking beaches, about 100kms north of the capital city, Muscat. The first phase of the 15-year project, AL-Madina Al-Zarqa ($1.8bn) is due for completion in 2009. When completed in 2020, Blue City is expected to accommodate 200,000 people.
• The Wave is a $1bn tourism Joint Venture involving the Omani Government, Majid Al Futtaim Investments (MAFI) and the Omani Pensions Fund. It is due for completion in 2012.
• Salam Yiti is a $1.7bn mountainside resort project located between the Al Hajar Ash Sharqi Mountains and the Gulf of Oman. The development is also only a 15-minute drive from Muscat. Spread across 420-hectares and rising to a height of 140m above sea level, and it will include golf courses and marinas. Salam Yiti is being developed by Sama Dubai and is scheduled for completion by 2013.
• Oman is quite unique in the world in that it has no railway network. In early 2008, the Omani Government unveiled plans for the country’s first rail line. The line will initially be used to transport goods, with passengers on board at a later stage. While it is still very much at planning stage, the line is planned connect the Sohar Port with Birka on the outskirts of Muscat, covering a distance of 200km. It will then be extended to Duqm, where there are plans to develop a new seaport and airport at a later stage.

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Bahrain – Small Island, Big Ambitions

In order to overcome the challenge of limited development space, Dubai came up with the brainwave of creating a man-made island to create more beachfront. In 2001, this idea evolved in to The Palm Jumeriah, and the ‘The World’ collection of private islands followed soon after.

The island Kingdom of Bahrain (at 665-sq km is two thirds the size of County Louth) has been similarly affected by the scale of development that has taken place in the state over the past few decades. With a minimum of land available for development, property values have risen dramatically in recent years, and the island is now very much focused on diversifying the range of developments that take place in the coming years. It has also taken the opportunity to create its own version of the man-made island series.

Bahrain is considered to be the fastest growing economy in the Arab world, fastest growing financial centre in the world, and it is also considered to be the freest economy in the Middle East.

So, it should be no surprise that in recent years many multi nationals have chosen Bahrain as the location for their regional headquarters, bringing many experienced senior managers to the island. Foreign residents account for about 40 per cent of Bahrain’s 700,000 population.

Major projects currently on site in Bahrain include The Bahrain Financial Harbour (€900m), Durrat al Bahrain (A €2.1bn series of 15 man-made islands), Health Island Project (€700m)), Al Areen Resort (€750m) and Rifa Views (€300m).

One of the most exciting construction projects to be completed in the Gulf States this year is the 50-floor Bahrain-based World Trade Centre. This twin tower development, ironically for an oil rich state, has three giant wind turbines bridging the gap between the towers. It is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design.

Bahrain International Investment Park
Bahrain's jewel development mega project is the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) . This is being developed in the Hidd Industrial Area, and covers over 250 hectares with 25.5km of readily equipped infrastructure such as roads, street lighting, sewage systems, landscaping and desalination systems. BIIP offers 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies, zero per cent tax with a ten-year guarantee, special customs services and no recruitment restrictions.

At the end of September Bahrain's government approved a monorail train network to ease traffic flow on the island. The three-stage development plan is expected to be completed by 2030.

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