CIOB President signs MoUs with key Middle East construction bodies

The CIOB’s President, Chris Soffe FCIOB, has this week signed two Memoranda of Understanding with construction organisations in the Middle East. On a trip to Doha in Qatar, he signed MoUs with the Qatar Green Building Council and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).

Both MoUs are intended to establish “mutual co-operation and sharing of expertise” in education and training and recognition of professional management in construction and projects for the benefit of industry, clients and society at large. These aims allow for the CIOB’s public benefit mission to have even more impact, and will help to raise the profile of the many CIOB members in the Middle East.

The agreements will also support collaboration on joint initiatives such as conferences, seminars, publications, standards and educational materials, easing access to materials and resources for members of each of the organisations. 

Chris Soffe, while at the Public Works Authority signing ceremony, said: 

"We are proud to work closely with these organisations to promote diverse educational programmes. Our membership gives special recognition to engineering graduates, helping to establish them as committed to careers in construction and leaders in their field."

He added: “These memoranda promote the development of staff and raises their competencies through specialised training courses.”

The signing of the Public Works Authority MoU was carried out by Chris Soffe and Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Marri, Ashghal’s Infrastructure Affairs Director, who was signing on behalf Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmad Al Mohannadi, President of Ashghal. Also present at the ceremony was the British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, H.E. Mr. Ajay Sharma. 

The Qatar Green Building Council was signed by Chris Soffe and Eng. Meshal Al Shamari, QGBC Director.

Photo caption: Chris Soffe FCIOB (left) and Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Marri, Ashghal’s Infrastructure Affairs Director.