The Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, respectively represented by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of land transportation and its supporting logistics services.

Minister of Transport H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani and Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa signed the MoU today, on the sidelines of the 30th Meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), in Manama.

On this occasion, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani said that the MoU comes as part of the two fraternal countries' commitment to strengthening cooperation and expanding partnership within the transportation industry, in such a way that serves mutual interests and supports efforts toward economic integration and regional connectivity.

The MoU, he added, serves as an important framework for knowledge and expertise exchange with regard to the planning and development of transportation infrastructure, and enhances cooperation on rail and road connectivity projects, as well as supporting logistics services, enabling both sides to leverage their respective capabilities and expertise to advance connectivity initiatives and enhance the efficiency of logistics services.

Qatar, he noted, attaches importance to reinforcing joint action with the GCC States in the transportation industry and this includes embracing innovative solutions and modern technologies to support the GCC countries’ efforts toward building a more efficient and sustainable regional transportation ecosystem—one that facilitates mobility and trade, and fosters comprehensive development.

The MoU focuses on numerous areas of cooperation of mutual interest, including examining options for bilateral rail and ground connectivity between the two countries, exploring ways to link these with the GCC Railway Project, and exchanging expertise and lessons learned on systems and strategies for enhancing the efficiency of transportation, warehousing, and supporting logistics services.

Key focus areas also include developing road safety systems and regulations and enhancing relevant specifications and standards, in addition to R&D focused on future trends of mutual benefit, thereby supporting an integrated, environment-conscious road transportation ecosystem.

Moreover, the MoU provides for the exchange of specifications, standards, and technical criteria, as well as policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks pertaining to modern modes of transportation. It includes the exchange of information and technical data relating to transportation and supporting logistics.

As per the MoU, the scope of cooperation also covers joint efforts in conducting trials and tests related to the outcomes of projects carried out within its framework, the exchange of visits by experts and official delegations of specialists, and joint research on transportation and supporting logistics—all of which serve to foster the exchange of expertise, technical and practical knowledge, and support the development of the industry in both countries.