QInvest, Qatar’s leading Investment bank, has acquired 30.5% of Al Nakheel Agriculture and Trading Company W.L.L. and AG Middle East LLC (together the “Group”). Based in Doha, Qatar, the companies specialize in providing landscaping and related maintenance services to governmental, corporate and industrial customers.

This acquisition is the fourth private equity transaction completed by QInvest in the MENA region and is consistent with its strategy to partner with established businesses that are in need for growth capital to achieve their expansion objectives.

Al Nakheel is a fully integrated landscaping and Maintenance Company established in Qatar in 1998. AG Middle East, established in 1976, is a landscape and irrigation services company involved in the construction, improvement and maintenance of commercial and governmental properties. Al Nakheel’s prestigious projects include The Pearl Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art Parks, Qatar Education City Convention Center, Barwa City, Dahlak Island Resort – Eritrea and Sidra Medical Research Canter. AGME’s prestigious projects include Doha 2006 Asian Games Village Hard & Soft Landscaping Works, Doha Golf Course, Ritz Carlton Hotel and the West Bay Lagoon Landscaping Works.

Commenting on the acquisition, QInvest’s CEO, Shahzad Shahbaz, said: “this investment represents the firm’s strategy to diversify its portfolio within the service sector. Our partnerships with Qatari organizations represent QInvest’s commitment to contribute to the growth of the private businesses in Qatar and the region aiming to benefit from the strong growth of the Qatari economy and the government’s strategy to expand and diversify the market”.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Fahd Al Thani, Chairman and majority shareholder of the Group, commented, “We are very happy partnering with QInvest and look forward to their support to help us retain our leading position in the market, institutionalize our business and strengthen our operations. We plan on leveraging this relationship to further expand our business and take it to the next level.”

Anuj Khanna, QInvest’s Head of Investment Management, said: “Al Nakheel Agriculture and Trading Company and AG Middle East have a long and successful track record of serving their customers’ needs and have executed several landmark projects in Qatar. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the existing shareholders and management team of both companies to help them realise their objectives.”

He added, “This is our second investment in the outsourced services sector, which is one of our target sectors for investment in Qatar and the region. We believe that Qatar’s strong fundamentals and outlook will benefit the Group as customers undertake major infrastructure and development projects over the next decade. The availability of increasingly sophisticated and environmentally friendly landscaping and maintenance solutions will be appreciated by customers as they drive the exciting transformation of Qatar over the next few years.”

QInvest via Marketwatch

/CE

QATAR

Doha, January 22 – QNA reports that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani held a session of official talks at the Emiri Diwan this afternoon with Eritrea”s President HE Isaias Afwerki.

Talks during the session dealt with bilateral ties between the two countries and means of promoting them in various fields besides a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The session was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers, while it was attended on the Eritrean side by Their Excellencies the members of the accompanying official delegation.

HH the Emir hosted a luncheon banquet in honor of HE the Eritrean President and the accompanying delegation.

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Doha, July 14 – HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar patronized the official ceremony for agreement signing between the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement for the Doha document for peace in Darfur which was held in Doha Sheraton Hotel this evening.

The ceremony was attended by President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir of Sudan, President Idriss Deby of Chad, President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, and Prime Minister of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn.

The ceremony was also attended by HE Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, and Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, representative of the African Union and the United Nations for Darfur Ibrahim Gambari, as well as representatives from Arab, regional and international organizations as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Qatar.

The ceremony began with a recitation of versus from the Holy Quran. Then, HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani gave a speech where he expressed his satisfaction at the signing of the peace accord by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement which was based on the Doha document.

HH the Emir described the Doha Document for Peace as a blessed beginning to establishing peace in Darfur. HH the Emir considered the signing of the accord as an honest invitation to all rebel groups to avoid conflict and contribute to making and ensuring peace.

HH added that the time has come for Darfur and its people to have stability after a long period of suffering, and that they become able to return to their homes and their normal lives with availability of the basic components of a decent life.

HH the Emir stressed on the State of Qatar’s keenness to coordinate with its regional and international partners to see the people of Darfur and Sudan enjoy security and stability, as they are the two conditions for development and stability.

His Highness added that all effort will be exerted in order to achieve that, at the same time the Emir called on everyone to make the interests of the people of Darfur in particular and of Sudan in general a top priority. The Emir appealed to everyone to start making real peace that signifies their devotions to their countries and putting the nation’s interest above all else.

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said at this stage of the history of our region the voice of people are rising to ensure for themselves their interest, adding that it is better for the politicians to listen and respond to them early. His Highness added that people in our region said they want justice and freedom but they did not say they want the terrible civil conflicts. These conflicts must be abandoned.

His Highness at the end of his speech thanked all of those who contributed to this achievement. In particular, HH the Emir extended his thanks to the Government of the Republic of Sudan, and the parties involved in peace negotiations, and the UN mission, and the AU, and the Arab-African Ministerial Committee, and international partners. He also extended his thanks to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso Djibril Bassole, who served as the joint mediator of the African Union and the United Nations for his patience, perseverance and sincere efforts.

His Highness also thanked HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud for his concerted and constant efforts that contributed to this achievement.

And then HH the Emir and their excellences the presidents witnessed the signing of the agreement.

The agreement was signed for the Sudanese government by Advisor to Sudan’s President Ghazi Salah El Din, while for the Liberation and Justice Movement by the head of the movement El-Tijani El-Sisi Mohammad Ateem. For the State of Qatar it was signed by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud. Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Djibril Bassole signed the agreement along with Chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur Ibrahim Gambari.

(QNA)

During his stay, the President would take part in the signing ceremony between Doha, the Sudanese government and the Movement for Freedom and Justice of Darfur. On arrival at Doha International Airport, President Isaias was welcomed by the Qatari Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Nasser Bin Abdalla Al-Himedin, and the Eritrean Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Ali Ibrahim.

Gulf Times- President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea left Doha yesterday wrapping up a three-day visit to Qatar.

The Eritrean president and his accompanying delegation were seen off upon their departure at Doha International Airport by HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, HE the Qatari Ambassador to Eritrea, Mohamed Ali al-Nuaimi, and the Eritrean envoy to Doha, Ali Ibrahim Ahmed.

During the visit, the Eritrean president held talks with HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, focusing on bilateral relations and ties of co-operation between Qatar and Eritrea, besides issues of mutual concern.

Egypt

QNA reports that Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Mona Omar has welcomed the mediation of the State of Qatar to settle the dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti, adding that Egypt welcomes any mediation that will realize peace between the two coutries.

She announced that her country was ready to make any effort to help achieve peace in this vital and important region, stressing that the return of normalcy between Eritrea and Djibouti is of interest to Egypt.

On the other hand, the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister revealed in a press statement released today that Chadian President Idriss Deby will begin a two-day visit to Cairo tomorrow (Tuesday) where he will hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and a number of officials on bilateral relations in addition to the latest developments in Sudan, especially in the Darfur region among others.

She also that Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is expected to pay a visit to Egypt during the coming period, during which he is expected to hold talks with Egyptian officials on the situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

Qatar

DOHA – Qatar said on Monday that Eritrean troops have withdrawn from an area they controlled in Djibouti as a result of Doha’s mediation bid to end a territorial dispute between the two neighbours.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani was quoted by official QNA news as saying that Eritrea has already conducted “a withdrawal from disputed border areas,” a move verified by a Qatari observer force.

The Qatari mediation provides for the formation of a committee, headed by Sheikh Hamad, which is empowered to appoint an international firm to demarcate the border, with Eritrea and Djibouti’s consent, QNA said.

The Qatari observation force is tasked with monitoring the border between the two countries “until the conclusion of a final agreement on settling the conflict,” QNA reported.

The force, made up of about twenty soldiers, arrived in Djibouti on Friday, according to Djibouti press reports.

The long-running border row between Djibouti and Eritrea over the disputed Ras Doumeira promontory on the shores of the Red Sea led to clashes in 1996, 1999 and again in 2008.

Qatar, a small Gulf country rich in natural gas and oil, has offered to mediate in various conflicts, including internal strife in Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon. (Middle East Online)

Doha, May 03 (QNA) – HH Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani held talks at the Emiri Diwan here on Monday with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, on the occasion of his current working visit to Qatar .

The talks were attended on the eritrean side by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohamed, the Head of the Political Affairs of the Popular Front for Democracy and Justice Yemane Gebreab, the head of the Economic Affairs of the Popular Front for Democracy and Justice Hakos Qabri Huot , HE the Eritrean Ambassador to Qatar Ali Ibrahim Ahmed and Al-Amin Hassan Al Amin , the office director of the Eritrean President.

The Qatari-Eritrean talks dealt with bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern. HH the Heir Apparent hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the Eritrean distinguished guest and the accompanying delegation.

Asmara, (Shabait) 3 May 2010- President Isaias Afwerki left today for Qatar and Egypt on a working visit at the invitation of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

In the course of the visit, the President would hold talks with the leaders of the two countries on enhancing bilateral relations and regional, as well as international issues of mutual interest.

President Isaias was accorded warm welcome on arrival in Doha at noon.

Later on, he met and held talks with the Crown Prince Sheikh Temim Bin-Hamad Al-Thani and other senior Qatari government officials.

In the meeting, the President exchanged views on Eritrean-Qatari relations, economic cooperation based on partnership and regional as well as international issues of mutual interest.

Dimdex

Eritrean Defence Minister Gen. Sebhat Ephrem arrived for a several day-visit in Qatar according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

During his visit he will attend the Predatory Falcon Exercise and the Doha International Maritime Defence II (DIMDEX 2010) which will be held as of the beginning of the next week.

The Defence Minister of Eritrea was received upon arrival at Doha International Airport by Director of the Protocol and Public Relations Department Brig.

Mohammed Ahmed al Sulaiti and Ambassador of Eritrea to Qatar H.E. Ali Ibrahim and a number of senior officers of the Armed Forces.

DIMDEX is the only specialized maritime defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa bringing together companies presenting their latest high-end technologies to meet the maritime challenges of the 21st century.

The regional naval defence exhibition and conference features surface, undersea and coastal defense systems, patrol aircraft, equipment and electronic solutions. It is the only fully integrated naval show in the Mid-East & North Africa, and provides a platform for introductions and business development to proceed.

Kallman Worldwide Inc., the offical organizer of the U.S. International Pavilion, has projected for the 2010 event 100 exhibitors from 20 countries, 7,000 buyers, 60 official delegations from 42 countries and about 16 warships and submarines from 9 countries to attend.

The Sudanese government has signed a framework peace accord with a small Darfur rebel group, officials have said.

The three-month ceasefire agreement, signed with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) on Thursday in Doha, the Qatari capital, came as talks with the larger Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) stalled.

Ali Osman Taha, the Sudanese vice-president who attended the signing of the Qatari-sponsored agreement, said: “This is an important step which will give momentum to peace efforts in Darfur.”

Qatar has been mediating between various Darfur groups and the government in Khartoum with a view to finding a lasting peace in Sudan’s western region.

Jem dismisses deal

As the signing ceremony got under way, Jem dismissed the deal saying the LJM had no military force on the ground.

But Al-Tahir al-Feki, a Jem senior official, told the Reuters news agency that his movement would not immediately act on its threat to walk out of Doha talks in protest at the deal. ”The ceasefire is meaningless. It is a ceasefire without any fire,” he said, speaking just before the signing.

“We’ll not leave Doha. We can’t respond now in a reflex reaction. We’ll see how it [the new accord] goes.”

Tijani Seisi, leader of the LJM – a newly formed umbrella group of 10 movements – that signed the framework deal paving the way for further talks, told Al Jazeera the peace deal will “underpin confidence between the two parties in order to move into the peace process”.

“There is a need to unite all these movements because peace will only be achieved if everybody is involved. But the Jem movement does not want to recognise the existence of the other factions on the ground,” he said.

Sudan and the Jem signed a pact in Doha last month, seen as a major step towards bringing peace to Darfur, but it has since run into difficulty. Omar al-Saleh, Al Jazeera’s correspondent at the talks in Doha, said: “What we witnessed today is a framework agreement with the government of Sudan and the ceasefire for three months.

“This is the important thing. The breakthrough came last month when 10 rebel groups decided to join forces and they called themselves the Liberation and Justice Movement.”

But the Sudan Liberation Army, a major faction led by Abdelwahid Nur, has so far refused to have any negotiations with the government.

Earlier this month it clashed with the army in the fertile Jebel Marra plateau in the heart of Darfur.

On Wednesday, Sudanese authorities re-arrested 15 members of Jem after releasing them following a truce with the group. Adam Bakr, the lawyer representing the rebels, said they were arrested when they went to Al-Fashir, the capital of north Darfur.

Our correspondent said one of the important things at the signing ceremony was the presence of some regional players like the foreign ministers of Eritrea and Chad.

Chad and Eritrea have been accused in the past of aiding rebel groups fighting Sudan. Qatar’s diplomatic efforts to find peace in Darfur have been complemented by Western powerful countries.

US appeal

Scott Gration, the US envoy to Sudan, urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seize the “little window” for a peace agreement before presidential, parliamentary and state elections next month.

“If we can get a jump on a Darfur peace agreement, then we should, because there’s going to be a lot of things keeping us from focusing on Darfur,” Gration told reporters in Nairobi last week before he travelled to Doha.

“The framework agreement “has to be turned into a more formalised agreement … If there is going to be a comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur, all rebel groups need to be involved.”

The conflict in Darfur has pitched ethnic African tribesmen against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, claiming up to 300,000 lives – from the fighting as well as famine and disease – and displacing 2.7 million people, according to the UN.

Sudan, whose president Omar al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes in Darfur, disputes the toll and says only 10,000 have died. Source: (Aljazeera)