Qatar-based Al Sawari Industries (ASI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uniform Italia, a leading Italian manufacturing company, to establish a joint venture that will manufacture uniforms for a wide variety of sectors.

Uniform Italia is a company that has been involved in the military clothing sector since 1945, and specialises in the military clothing sector.

As part of the agreement, the joint venture will sell and distribute clothing, uniform and accessories in the Middle East, North Africa (Mena), Europe and other regions, said a statement from the company.

The statement of intent was signed recently by Sheikh Turki bin Faisal Al Thani, chairman of and Arnaldo Usai, CEO of Uniform Italia, it said.

The joint venture company will set up a factory later this year at an estimated investment of $35 million. It will operate in the manufacturing, trade and servicing of clothing, uniform and accessories in Qatar, it added.

It will also produce work uniforms including those used for the state’s security and military personnel, construction, manufacturing, airline crew, and similar industries. The joint venture company will further cater to the need for uniforms in public sector undertakings such as schools and healthcare, said the statement.

The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of Al Faisal Holding; Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faisal Al Thani, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar; Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Maliki Al Jehani, Qatar's ambassador to Italy; Federica Guidi, Minister of Economic Development of the Italian Government; Guido De Sanctis, ambassador of Italy in Qatar; and Giancarlo Innocenzi Botti, xhairman of Invitalia SPA (the Italian Agency for Investment’s Development).

Al Thani said: “We have made significant progress in setting up the joint venture and together the companies are creating a world-class production facility in Qatar.”

“Simultaneously, both sides are evaluating potential industrial sites and are screening the existing local supply chain,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service