China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), one of China’s major construction firms, is currently involved in two of the most prestigious railway projects — the Haramain High Speed Rail Phase 1 (Package 1) project; and the Civil and Track Works Contract CTW400, from Az Zabirah Junction to King Khalid International Airport.
In an interview with Arab News, Wen Wu, general manager and project director, CTW400-Track, said that through these projects they will bring technical knowhow to the railway network through cost effectiveness and their financial strength.
The following is the text of the interview:
When did your company start operations in the Kingdom?
We started in the late 1990s. In the first 10 years or so, we were involved in the construction of buildings and structural works such as bridges and underpass.
Which was the first railway project in which your firm participated in the Kingdom?
We began with Civil and Track Works Contract (CTW400 – Az Zabirah Junction to King Khalid International Airport) and Haramain High Speed Rail Project Phase 1 (Package1). We have received good cooperation from our local partners for over a decade now.
What do you think of the construction sector in the Kingdom?
We have noticed huge investment in almost all sectors of the Saudi economy benefiting people from all walks of life thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future, especially in railways and metros, such as Riyadh metro, Makkah metro, the Riyadh- Jeddah railway of the Land Bridge etc. It is estimated to be a SR 365 billion investment plan in railway and metro projects until the year 2040.
How do you evaluate relations between China and the Kingdom?
China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have maintained friendly and strategically important relations. Our involvement in the economic and construction sectors will enhance such ties.
What is your strength in the railway project here in the Kingdom?
As a strategic partner, we can bring technical know-how to the railway network by making it cost effective. An example of this is the current Civil and Track Works Contract CTW400 — Az Zabirah Junction to King Khalid International Airport and the Haramain High Speed Rail Project Phase I (Package1). The China Civil is ready to handle more such projects in the railway and metro network of the Kingdom.
Can you brief us on the company's track record in railroad construction?
China Civil was established in 1979 according to the approval of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. As one of the pioneers in international contracting and economic cooperation, it has been developed from the earlier Foreign Aid Bureau of the Ministry of Railways of China into a large-scale state-owned enterprise with Chinese National Super Grade Qualification for railway project contracting. Our company has been listed among the world’s top 225 international contractors for many years by the Engineering News Record.
How about your projects in other countries?
Since its execution of Tanzania-Zambia Railway, the biggest economic-aid project undertaken by China in 1960s, China Civil has been in constant development. At present, China Civil’s business scope covers project contracting, civil engineering design and consultancy, real estate development, import and export trading, hotel management etc.
The business activities of China Civil are spread across 60 countries in Asia, Africa, America, Europe and Oceania with its overseas offices or subsidiaries established in more than 40 countries. By the end of 2011, the number of core staff of China Civil had exceeded 3,000 and that of foreign employees exceeded 10,000, with a newly signed annual contract value of $ 8.466 billion, through which a turnover of $ 1.119 billion had been achieved.
What are your major achievements?
Recently, China Civil has been executing numerous key projects ranging from railway, light rail, expressway to bridges, buildings, and municipal works. It has successfully signed the contracts for many large-scale projects in the past three years, such as Algerian 175 km Double Line Electrified Railway Project (contract value:1.728 billion Euros) in 2009, Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Abuja-Kaduna) (contract value: $ 850 million) in 2010, and many other large-scale railway and expressway projects in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Nigeria and Chad in 2011, among which the contract value of the Railway Project between Ethiopia and Djibouti hit $ 1.702 billion. By the end of 2011, the number of China Civil’s projects under execution amounted to 128 with total contract value of $ 8.385 billion, which in turn guarantees China Civil for its sustainable business development and ever growing strength for project contracting.
While consolidating and expanding its project contracting market, China Civil is also focusing on developing its diversified business and specialized professional edges, thus achieving a steadily strengthened financing capacity and an increasingly widened business scope. Adhering to the concept of “people-oriented, scientific development,” China Civil will continue to carry out an even more extensive and deeper cooperation with friends all over the world in a win-win partnership in our mutual interest by offering best service to our clients and the society.
