For his part, the Group CEO explained to FCC staff in Riyadh some of the decisions taken in recent months and their outcome. He underlined the imperative need to return to profitability in all construction projects through appropriate selection and cost and structural reductions. Mr Jarque also visited the offices of the FAST Consortium (responsible for building 3 lines of the Riyadh Metro), an example of diversity and culture with people from 42 nationalities speaking 22 different languages. Subsequently, the delegation headed by Mr Jarque took a tour of the Line 5 (Green) Northern Tunnel, where FCC personnel on site explained the operations and the challenges and difficulties they have overcome in the last 11 months’ work.

During his visit, the Group CEO also attended the presentation ceremony to mark the end of the excavation of the Riyadh Metro Green line tunnel. Accompanying our Citizen Services Group CEO were the Governor of Riyadh, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Transport, His Excellency Suleiman Al Hamdan, as well as other government representatives, Paul Colio, director of FCC Construction International division, Jaime Freyre de Andrade, director of the FAST Consortium (led by FCC) and Mijangos Yago, director of FCC in the Middle East.

An economic powerhouse for Riyadh

At his meetings with the Governor, the Mayor of Riyadh and other executives from the FAST Consortium, Carlos M. Jarque pointed out that when the Riyadh Metro comes into service, it will drastically change the capital’s residential configuration and boost its economy, as well as providing sustainable social development for the population. He also reiterated FCC's commitment to the project and announced the changes made in the management team. The local authorities praised the efforts made by the FCC team in the project and encouraged the Group to participate in upcoming investments in Water infrastructures to be developed in the area.
The agenda of the visit also included a meeting with the Spanish Ambassador in Riyadh, Joaquin Perez-Villanueva, who was thanked for the continual support of the Spanish diplomatic delegation to the project and to the Spanish nationals stationed in the city. Jarque also met with staff from the FCC Aqualia offices in the Saudi capital and was informed in person of the details of the projects carried out by our Water subsidiary in the area. At the meeting, Jarque encouraged FCC Aqualia to seek synergies with other Group divisions and to embrace the challenge facing all workers of raising the company to a position of global leadership.