Please tell us about the key features of Ramky Group’s range of solutions and focus areas.

Ramky Group is predominantly an infrastructure group focused on infrastructure development and environmental management sectors. As part of civil infrastructure development, we deliver solutions for segments such as roads, bridges, buildings, energy, irrigation and so on. The environmental management division, Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd., provides comprehensive and sustainable environmental solutions for different sectors including water and wastewater; solid waste management – municipal waste, bio-medical and hazardous waste; construction and demolition waste; electrical and electronic waste; as well as recycling of most of these materials including paper, plastic, oil, metals, glass, etc.

We are among Asia’s largest environmental management groups operating in about 10 countries, managing around 8-9 million tonnes of waste every year. Our collective focus as a company is to become a leading environmental solution provider for emerging economies.

When did the company foray into the Middle East and which are the countries you are present in?

We established our business in the Middle East in 2007. At present, Ramky has operations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and will soon expand into Ras Al Khaimah, Jordan and other parts of the region.

What are the company’s goals and broad vision with regard to environmental management?

As I had mentioned, our goal is to become the leading environmental solutions provider for emerging economies, which primarily includes most of the Middle East, almost all of Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. This is our predominant geographical focus and the six key areas that we would like to concentrate on are municipal waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, electrical & electronic waste, construction & demolition waste, and recycling of various materials.

In all these regions, people are looking for cost-effective solutions and we believe we are capable of bringing in the most suitable solutions and services. In fact, in Africa, Ramky has already started the construction of a bio-medical plant in Tanzania and is also looking to expand into other emerging economies across the Continent.

What is your business strategy particularly for the Middle East market? Which are the segments you are providing solutions for and what is the value addition that Ramky brings to this market?

In the Middle East, the focus will mainly be on projects similar to the material recovery facility (MRF) that was just inaugurated in Dubai. The emphasis will be on recovery and recycling of different waste streams. We would like to add medical and industrial waste incineration plants like the one we are currently constructing in Abu Dhabi. Our focus is also on MARPOL projects such as the one we are building in Sohar right now.

It is a matter of pride that the new MRF ‘Farz’, which has just been inaugurated in Dubai, is the most advanced automated plant in the region, and I think that makes us unique in terms of technological competence, integration and development capabilities.

Please tell us about some of the major contracts you have recently signed in this region, including significant details of these projects.

Ramky has signed a major contract with Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, to construct an integrated waste management and recycling complex. We have just completed the hazardous waste management project for the Integrated Waste Treatment Facility (IWTF) at Sohar, Oman, and has also signed a marine pollution agreement with Sohar Port. In Abu Dhabi, we are currently working on the medical and hazardous waste incinerator project. As you can see, we have undertaken some of the most prestigious projects in the region and will continue to develop our operations across the region.

What are the key objectives for the coming years and how are you strategising for further growth in this region?

While Ramky is already Asia’s largest environmental management company, we would also like to strengthen our position in the Middle East to become the region’s leading waste management and environmental management company. And rather than focusing only on treatment and disposal aspects, we would like to extend our presence in terms of recycling solutions as well. We are fortunate to have some of the best partners in the Middle East and with the kind of investment and expertise our company is bringing in, I believe we will surely be able to achieve our goals in the long run.