Hospitality Qatar, which is on its sixth edition this year, is an opportunity to learn about developments in Qatar’s hospitality sector, especially in light of potential commercial opportunities due to the projected growth of the national economy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry Undersecretary Sultan bin Rashid al-Khater has said.
Al-Khater inaugurated the exhibition, which will run until November 11 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), and stressed that Hospitality Qatar 2021 is an important platform for forming new investment partnerships with major international companies specialised in this sector.
“It also contributes to encouraging investors and businessmen to explore promising prospects and investment opportunities available within the Qatari hospitality sector, and thus benefit from developing their businesses and expanding into regional and global markets,” al-Khater said in a statement Monday.
After the inauguration ceremony, al-Khater toured the exhibition and visited the various pavilions, services, and products offered by the participating companies and institutions. He was accompanied by Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker; Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas; Turkish ambassador Dr Mustafa Goksu; IFP Qatar general manager Haider Mshaimesh; and Qatar Chamber first vice chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, Prunas said the participating Italian firms are small companies making high-quality products and specialising in artisanal production. Their presence is also the Italian Trade Agency’s (ITA) way of helping them penetrate international markets, such as Qatar, Prunas also noted.
ITA trade commissioner Augusta Smargiassi also said the agency will be scheduling B2B meetings for participating Italian companies and their SME counterparts in Qatar to enable them to expand their network in both countries.
According to Prunas, there are several Italian companies that took their own initiative to participate in Hospitality Qatar, which reflects “Italian entrepreneurship and the will to expand to other markets abroad.”
“While Qatar is already an important market, the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup next year is driving a lot of business inwards, so many Italian companies want to be here to get the right exposure during this historic moment, which is under the international spotlight being a very prestigious sporting event,” the ambassador said.
On niche brands, Prunas explained that Qatar “is a market with interest for coffee,” citing small companies that specialise in specific products. “Often, the smaller brands make excellent products but they are really niche. While some may be more expensive than other well-known brands, but niche products have a market in Qatar because the country is a rich market. It is a connoisseur market,” Prunas added.
“It also contributes to encouraging investors and businessmen to explore promising prospects and investment opportunities available within the Qatari hospitality sector, and thus benefit from developing their businesses and expanding into regional and global markets,” al-Khater said in a statement Monday.
After the inauguration ceremony, al-Khater toured the exhibition and visited the various pavilions, services, and products offered by the participating companies and institutions. He was accompanied by Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker; Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas; Turkish ambassador Dr Mustafa Goksu; IFP Qatar general manager Haider Mshaimesh; and Qatar Chamber first vice chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, Prunas said the participating Italian firms are small companies making high-quality products and specialising in artisanal production. Their presence is also the Italian Trade Agency’s (ITA) way of helping them penetrate international markets, such as Qatar, Prunas also noted.
ITA trade commissioner Augusta Smargiassi also said the agency will be scheduling B2B meetings for participating Italian companies and their SME counterparts in Qatar to enable them to expand their network in both countries.
According to Prunas, there are several Italian companies that took their own initiative to participate in Hospitality Qatar, which reflects “Italian entrepreneurship and the will to expand to other markets abroad.”
“While Qatar is already an important market, the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup next year is driving a lot of business inwards, so many Italian companies want to be here to get the right exposure during this historic moment, which is under the international spotlight being a very prestigious sporting event,” the ambassador said.
On niche brands, Prunas explained that Qatar “is a market with interest for coffee,” citing small companies that specialise in specific products. “Often, the smaller brands make excellent products but they are really niche. While some may be more expensive than other well-known brands, but niche products have a market in Qatar because the country is a rich market. It is a connoisseur market,” Prunas added.
