Egypt's OCI wins joint venture contract in Qatar

CAIRO (Reuters) - Orascom Construction Industries, Egypt's largest builder by market value, said 50-percent owned BESIX was in a joint venture that had won a $740 million contract to build a convention centre in Qatar.

BESIX Group will provide structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing works for a convention centre and tower in Doha due for completion by March 2011, OCI said in a statement on Wednesday.

BESIX, a Belgium group in which OCI has a 50 percent stake, has a $370 million share in the Doha project which will include a hotel, offices, retail and residential areas and a convention centre in a 550 metre tower, OCI said.

Orascom's chief executive said in November he saw company revenue from construction rising 50 percent in 2009 on more infrastructure projects.