New York, September 22 (QNA) - Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), and Emerson, a global leader in industrial automation and engineering services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance cooperation in industrial automation and technical services, with the establishment of a regional operations center in Qatar’s free zones.

The agreement was signed by HE CEO of QFZ, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani, and Group President, Global Sales at Emerson, Judson Duncan, on the sidelines of Qatar Economic Forum: UNGA Special Edition 2026 in New York.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, QFZ announced that the proposed regional operations center cover a range of specialized capabilities. The center would also feature a repair facility and rapid spare-parts service for field instrumentation, strengthening access to specialized technical support across the region.

The MoU also supports wider ecosystem development through collaboration with Emerson partners, suppliers, research institutions and academia. These efforts will help reinforce industrial value chains, develop Qatari talent and expand access to Emerson’s expertise and solutions across Qatar and regional markets.

HE CEO of QFZ Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani commented, “Emerson is one of the world’s leading global industrial companies, and I am delighted to welcome them to Qatar’s Free Zones," adding that this investment in Qatar will enable Emerson to take advantage of significant growth opportunities within the region. This builds upon the free zone’s industrial clusters, further bringing together global expertise, advanced technologies and specialised capabilities locally.

"This exciting partnership reflects the strength of the wider relationship between Qatar and the US, and is a real sign of trust in the ecosystem that we are building locally. This is a key milestone within Qatar’s economic diversification, re-enforcing our position as an attractive base for regional and international business,” HE added.

For his part, Judson Duncan said, “This agreement marks an important step in strengthening Emerson’s presence and capabilities in the region. Qatar’s ambition to advance its industrial and digital landscape, supported by QFZ’s integrated ecosystem and strategic connectivity, provides a strong platform for growth. We look forward to expanding access to Emerson’s automation technologies, services and expertise, while helping customers enhance reliability, efficiency and operational performance.”

Through strategic collaborations, QFZ continues to create pathways for industrial innovation, operational excellence and sustainable growth. These efforts reinforce QFZ’s value proposition for investors and its role in advancing Qatar’s globally competitive industrial ecosystem. (QNA)