US Highway Panel and Ashghal in 'Fruitful Talks'

Doha, April 20 (QNA) - A visiting delegation from the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) termed technology exchange talks held here Wednesday with senior officials from Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) as "tremendously fruitful" .
FHWA's Leader of Global Technology Exchange Team Stephen Kern said, "t is a tremendously fruitful visit. We covered a broad spectrum of issues today and have learnt a lot during our talks with officials from Ashghal."
Kern and representatives from Ashghal spoke to the media at a roundtable hosted by US Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron and organised by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy here.
This was the second visit of senior officials from the FHWA. Their objective was to prospect transportation technology exchange, learn Ashghal's operations processes and systems as a precursor to formal partnership, officials said.
Ashghal's Director of Roads and Drainage Networks Design Jamal Shareeda Al Kaabi said, "We had discussions on various topics like Intelligent Transport System, planning, linking transportation from bus, rail to metro with FHWA officials as well as other stake holders. We are looking at Qatar's future development plans."
Reiterating this Ambassador LeBaron said, "Safe, efficient roads and highways are essential to achieving Qatar's future development plans for events like football World Cup in 2022 and beyond."
The officials also discussed the idea of setting up a comprehensive technology exchange centre that is a repository of information on transportation and a point of dissemination of information, knowhow and training.
"Our team is impressed with what we have seen here, not only in Ashghal but Qatar as a whole. We think it is a wonderful opportunity for the country and the people of Qatar to develop something very special," added Kern.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the US Department of Transportation that supports state and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the Nation s highway system (Federal Aid Highway Programme).