RIYADH: In a major move to participate in the Kingdom’s public transport development plans and win contracts, the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) signed a “strategic cooperation agreement” with the French transport giant Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) on Saturday.
The accord with this semi-government French company will cover operation and maintenance of future tram and metro networks as part of the Kingdom’s development program of major urban cities.
“France, as world leader in railway engineering, industrial development or exploitation of public transportation lines, as illustrated in the project that brings us here together, is more than ever willing to contribute to the Kingdom’s development by sharing its industrial, technological and management expertise in the transportation field,” said French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot. “The strategic cooperation accord will herald a new era of cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.”
The signing ceremony at Riyadh’s Marriot Hotel was attended by a number of diplomats, top SAPTCO executives and RATP officials. Prominent among them were Deputy Minister of Transport Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Assistant Deputy Minister for Transport Faisal Al-Zibin, SAPTCO Chairman Abdullah Al-Mogbel, its CEO Khalid Al-Hogail, RATP Chairman Jean-Marc Janaillac, Chief of the French Embassy’s Commercial Department Philippe Fouet, Commercial Attaché Alexis Lucas, and Secretary General of the Council of Saudi Chambers Fahad Al-Sultan.
Referring to the salient features of this Saudi-French tie-up, Lucas said, “It was significant keeping in view the fact that there are many mega projects coming up in the transport sector of the Kingdom.”
Saudi Arabia will be spending $400 billions in the five years to end 2013 on development projects, which include several transport projects, especially tramways, high-speed trains and metros.
“The two companies — SAPTCO and RATP — aim to bid together for tenders including projects identified in cities such as Riyadh and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,” said a joint press statement.
