Patricia del Valle and Jesús Bravo are two Ineco professionals who have joined our team in Kuwait to carry out the ORAT of the country's international airport.
Patricia del Valle and Jesús Bravo are two Ineco professionals who have joined our team in Kuwait to carry out the ORAT of the country's international airport. Patricia del Valle, a civil engineer in our company since 2012, has been part of the international project and bid development team and for more than six years she has been working in the Middle East region. Jesús Bravo is an aeronautical engineer and has spent 20 years of his professional career in the company, participating in important international projects in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica and the United Arab Emirates.
Ineco is leading the consortium, together with the local firms KUD (Kuwait United Development) and Dar Al Jazeera Consultants, in charge of the project management of the expansion of Kuwait International Airport. You can find out more here.
How did you get the opportunity to work in Kuwait?
Patricia del Valle: "Following my interest in learning about and developing the company's international projects, in 2017 I started on the Abu Dhabi airport ORAT project with Ineco, which has very similar characteristics to the current project in Kuwait. It is certainly an opportunity to gain further experience in planning and managing large infrastructure projects.
Jesús Bravo: "Like Patricia, I also worked in Abu Dhabi, in my case for five years. I really enjoyed the experience of going abroad, so it was very clear to me that I wanted to expatriate again.
How has the adaptation to the country been?
PDV: "We are still working on it, but it is a great help to be able to join Ineco's current Project Management team at the airport, which has just completed three years here. Being able to share experiences and resolve doubts with other colleagues who are going through a similar situation is a huge help".
JB: "You miss your family, but thanks to the video calls we try to make up for it".
What is the project you are going to carry out?
Both: "The objective of the Kuwait Airport ORAT project is the development and commissioning of the new Terminal of more than 700,000 m2, supporting the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works. This is a challenge that requires the coordination of a large number of public bodies, consultants and contractors from different countries involved in the construction and future operation of the airport.
Our aim is to ensure that this terminal will be able to disruption-free operate from day one. To do this we have to get the four pillars (Construction, Systems, Employees and Operations) perfectly aligned.
What is the opinion of our company in the country?
Both: "Ineco has extensive experience in the country and is recognised for having previously developed key projects in the field of land transport and airports. Specifically, for Kuwait airport, Ineco had already worked between 2011 and 2016 on the project management and the Master Plan for Kuwait's General Directorate of Civil Aviation. Inthe short time we have been here, we have already seen how our client (the Ministry of Public Works) constantly relies on Ineco when it comes to making decisions".
What should we not miss if we go to Kuwait?
PSV: "a stroll through the Al Mubarakiya souk to get a taste of the country's traditions and customs. A walk along the Gulf Road with the promenade and the city skyline, combined with a visit to Al Shaheed Park, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre or the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre... and of course one of the favourite pastimes in this country: a good Arabian meal".
JB: "I've only been in the country for two weeks, so from the little I've seen so far, I've been pleasantly impressed by a shopping centre called Avenues: it's huge, it's very bright. I am looking forward to going to the desert, it is what impressed me most from my previous expatriation in Abu Dhabi. For those of you who have never been there before, I recommend that you experience the feeling of freedom and infinite tranquillity that the sight of the sea of dunes transmits".
