The Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) and Egypt's GV Investments Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate for GSAS implementation in Egypt and to promote sustainable solutions. The signing ceremony took place at GORD headquarters in Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP). Under the partnership, GORD and GV will work towards a range of initiatives aimed at accelerating climate solutions and promoting sustainable built environment in the Egyptian market, with focus on the implementation of GSAS in Tarboul City – Egypt’s largest industrial city.

The strategic agreement was signed by Dr. Yousef Alhorr, founding Chairman of GORD, and Mr. Sherif Hamouda, Chairman of GV Investments Group. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Alhorr said, “Our partnership with GV Investments marks a significant milestone for GORD as we expand our GSAS green buildings rating system into Egypt. We recognize that addressing the region’s climate challenges requires cross-country collaboration and shared expertise. By working together, we can create a more sustainable future for the Middle East and North Africa region. Today’s partnership is a testament that we are committed to leveraging our joint strengths to deliver impactful solutions that address the unique needs of this region and contribute to a greener, healthier, and more prosperous world for all.”

Mr. Sherif Hamouda, on his part, expressed his appreciation for the partnership, saying, “Green investment is one of our main businesses in Egypt, and having GSAS in Egypt is an added value for GV Group and our country. GORD will be our strategic partner for Tarboul Industrial City, which is a sustainable mega project in Egypt. We are happy to be part of this cooperation and confident that GORD's expertise and experience in environmental sustainability will help us achieve our climate goals and create world-class developments that are also ecologically responsible.”

Through the agreement, the partnering entities will collaborate on capacity building and knowledge sharing to encourage industry-wide transition to low-carbon solutions and green building practices. Additionally, GV Investments Group will work towards the adoption of GSAS as a green building standard in Tarboul Industrial City in Egypt, which will work in achieving the city’s green status.

Tarboul City project is dubbed the largest industrial “Green, Smart, Livable” city developed in Egypt. Being developed over an area of ​​109 million sqm, the industrial city is designed to cater to the needs of sustainable production, the mega development will be home to a variety of manufacturing plants, factories, warehouses, and other industrial facilities.

Since its inception in 2009, GSAS has become the fastest growing green building rating system in the Gulf region with more than 2000 registered projects covering a built-up area exceeding 2 billion square feet in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. To mention a few, FIFA officially endorsed GSAS for all eight stadiums hosted the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lusail City was the first to implement GSAS standards to assess and rate all developments in the city. Additionally, Ashghal has adopted GSAS for all public buildings in Qatar since 2010. From design, through construction to operations Qatar Rail implemented GSAS’ unique Railways Scheme to rate all Doha metro stations.

The partnership between GORD and GV Investments Group is expected to pave the way for more collaborations in the future, enabling both organizations to make significant contributions to the sustainable development of their respective countries and the region as a whole.