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An Azerbaijan section at Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani (FBQ) Museum was inaugurated Wednesday, displaying various objects representing “vibrant local heritage enriched by Islamic influences.” Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan ambassador Rashad Ismayilov said his country enjoys an old and very rich culture. "Early works of art in our country date back 5,000 years ago. Wonderful nature, climate and resources of my country produced a significant impact on artistic thinking and creation skills of our people. The traditional Azerbaijan dress has a long history dating back 5,000 years, according to the envoy. “I am so excited that, from now on, some exhibits from Azerbaijan will be displayed here. I take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone involved in this work, particularly to HE Sheikh Faisal,” he explained. The envoy and HE Sheikh Faisal led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and toured some of the sections at the FBQ museum, along with Ismayilov's wife, Mehriban Ismayilov, and other ambassadors and embassy officials from different embassies in Doha. Showcased objects reflect Azerbaijan's "vibrant local heritage enriched by Islamic influences." The Azerbaijan section, titled ‘Azerbaijan: Crafting a Cultural Network along the Silk Road’, showcases a number of traditional carpets, dresses, musical instruments such as tar, ghaval, and saz, shabakas, decorative bowls, and Arab mashrabiya, among other items. HE Sheikh Faisal thanked Ismayilov for bringing unique and exceptional pieces from Azerbaijan to the FBQ museum – which houses Sheikh Faisal’s personal collection, comprising more than 15,000 items. Traditional Azerbaijan musical instruments on display at the FBQ Museum's latest section. With a lot of things to showcase from Azerbaijan, HE Sheikh Faisal said the FBQ museum could expand and make the section bigger in the future. He also indicated plans to visit Azerbaijan soon. Opening a section at the renowned FBQ museum, according to Ismayilov, provides an opportunity to promote Azerbaijan’s rich culture and heritage to the people of Qatar, as well as to foreign visitors. Traditional knives and other tools form part of Azerbaijan's rich culture “Enriching world musical culture with its rare pearls, Azerbaijan music also has multi-centuries old traditions. This is why we brought some of our traditional musical instruments too. “Today, one can easily come across numerous wonderful models of Azerbaijani folk arts in the world's largest museums. We are so proud that we will see such art pieces in Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum also,” Ismayilov said. The traditional dress on display, he pointed out, has a long history dating back 5,000 years, while old equipment, instruments, and tools were all handcrafted and form part of Azerbaijan’s culture. Ismayilov also highlighted the close and strong bilateral relations between the two countries, stressing that “Azerbaijan's cultural ties with Qatar are of exceptional importance to us”. “Proceeding from this priority, we have been implementing various joint projects together with our Qatari friends. And we will spare no efforts to develop the bilateral cultural ties between the two brotherly countries further,” the envoy stressed.

Artworks all made of stainless spoon and fork – among them a soon-to-be-completed metal horse bust by Filipino artist Danny Ponce – continue to captivate many visitors at the second edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF 2022). Enthusiasts find the artist’s pieces impressive not only because of the selected materials but also due to the way they are created and designed – without using any machine, welding, or pattern. “I don’t use welding to bind or connect one part from the other. What I do is bend and shape (the material by a tool). I find this extraordinary compared to just using metals, cutting it, and putting the part somewhere to form the artwork that you like,” Ponce, who has been living in Qatar for 16 years, told Gulf Times. “Otherwise, I will just be doing an ordinary metal sculpture, but I want something more creative and challenging,” he stressed. Apart from the metal horse bust, Ponce is also showcasing at KIAHF 2022 a 28-inch robot that resembles a character from the Transformers film. His other works on display at their home include a Harley Davidson-inspired motorbike, a quad bike, and a metal Oryx (ongoing project), among others. He noted that it will take him approximately another one month to finish the bust, which is being created and displayed as part of his participation at the KIAHF 2022. He has initially formed the horse’s mouth and parts of its face. Ponce, who started doing metal sculpture 20 years ago, said that he was inspired to pursue his passion of using scraps – particularly spoon and fork – for his artworks after watching “Beauty and the Beast” with their daughter. “I saw a character in the film which resembles a spoon and so an idea came to my mind and thought of pairing it with another spoon, and it looked like a chest armour. From there, I was able to form a robot out of spoon and fork. From there, I developed my other artworks,” explained Ponce, who is the husband of Concon Ponce, founder of Future318, and the organiser of Doha Women Forum. About the festival, Ponce said that KIAHF serves as an ideal platform for emerging artists, especially those who have yet to open their own shops and showrooms, to showcase their creativity. The 11-day event concludes today at the Katara Esplanade. It is being held under the generous patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and organised by Katara in association with Qatar Equestrian Federation, Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, and Qatar Foundation. The latest edition of the festival showcased hundreds of purebred Arabian horses from 11 countries, taking part in a number of categories, including the recently-concluded Arabian Peninsula Horse Show and Yearling Fillies, as well as the Title Show, which concludes today. KIAHF 2022 also hosts a number of art and photo exhibitions, displaying several works by artists from Qatar and the region, in addition to live saddle painting, shepherds’ tents and cafes, and other attractions. Ponce lauded the efforts of Katara – the Cultural Village in nurturing creative talents and hosting an array of events and exhibitions that promote their works to a wider audience.    

*Aspire hosts Shura Council members, fitness enthusiasts and public on NSD   Qatar’s annual National Sport Day celebration brought together Shura Council members on Tuesday at Aspire Park, while also engaging park-goers in several outdoor activities that promote an active and healthy lifestyle. “NSD reflects Qatar’s keenness with regard to sports and highlights the importance of sports in a person’s life and well-being. We try to get everybody – men, women and the youth – to be involved in sports,” HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim told Gulf Times. HE the Speaker, along with his colleagues and employees of the Council’s General Secretariat, marked the start of NSD activities at Aspire Park and took part in a number workouts, exercises and other activities. HE al-Ghanim said NSD, which was first held in February 2012, highlights Qatar’s interest in sports as it prepares to host a prestigious football tournament this year – the FIFA World Cup 2022 – set to be held in the Middle East for the first time. He stressed that the National Sport Day is an embodiment of the importance of sport in human life, adding that allocating a sports day for the State aims to remind the people of the importance of making the sports an integral part of their lifestyle and that it is not limited to a specific day. According to HE al-Ghanim, NSD’s aims form part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and provide an opportunity for people of different age groups to exercise and play the sports they like at various locations in the country. HE the Shura Council’s Deputy Speaker Dr Hamda bint Hassan al-Sulaiti, too, stressed that NSD is a special and unique celebration, which also serves as an excellent platform to establish good relations between Shura Council members. “As you know, we are the first country all over the world to have a National Sport Day, and we believe that sport should be part of our daily life,” she said. In a press statement, HE Dr al-Sulaiti cited Qatar’s huge passion for sport, building state-of-the-art facilities, including those for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, “according to the wise directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani”. She noted that such extraordinary efforts come “within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030 and its emphasis on the development of the human element and concern for its health”. HE Dr al-Sulaiti also highlighted the various achievements of NSD, witnessing the participation of different governmental and non-governmental organisations in the country. It further proved that Qatar “attaches great importance to sports as part of development due to its repercussions on community health as a noble humanity value”. Part of the NSD celebration at Aspire Park included community-focused activities and events organised by Aspire Academy, attracting many park-goers and sports enthusiasts, especially families and children. In a press statement, Aspire Academy said all their activities – held in line with public health guidelines – were organised “to promote the country’s national sports strategy and inspire the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle”. Some of these activities included gym, volleyball, spinning, Padel and workouts for members of the community, in addition to a variety of games for children, families and visitors, which took place at Pitch No. 10 and 11, besides Aspire Park and the Padel Court. On a chilly morning, children from all age-groups lapped up the opportunity to be a part of the annual NSD. Six-year-old Mohamed Anas, who was accompanied by his parents, experienced his first-ever full-time NSD activities at the Aspire Park. “I like to walk in the open air and enjoy the vast green spaces at the Aspire Park,” said Anas. Another visitor, Aayat, 14, has witnessed the NSD activities at Aspire Park since 2013. “We generally come here on our weekends but Aspire Academy’s NSD activities at Aspire Park are something special and innovative,” she said.    

A significant and unique event like Qatar National Sport Day (NSD) helps build bridges and enhance mutual understanding between people and cultures from around the world, Indonesian ambassador Ridwan Hassan has said. “We hope it (NSD) will create a bigger avenue for Qatar and Indonesia to have further co-operation and collaboration in sports,” he said, lauding Qatar for organising an annual sports day, which takes place every second Tuesday of February. In a press statement, the envoy noted that Qatar and Indonesia continue to enjoy friendly, cordial and long-lasting relations in the field of sports. Hassan said that the Indonesian Olympic Committee and Qatar Olympic Committee signed a memorandum of understanding last year to enhance co-operation in the sports field. This year, many Indonesians living in Qatar will again gather and exercise together – along with other communities – to mark NSD. The event this year, held under the slogan *Sports is Life, marks its 10th anniversary and underlines the key role of sports on people’s lives and society, and raises public awareness on the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle. NSD Committee chairman Abdulrahman Musallam al-Dosari recently announced that all NSD events this year should be held outdoors, adhering to coronavirus (Covid-19) safety protocols imposed by the Ministry of Public Health. “Not many countries in this world have a sports day and make it as a national day. The way the government and people of Qatar are embracing sports is exceptional,” Hassan said. “It shows us how deep the connection of this country is with sports.” He added that sports, at many levels, “has been used as an effective tool to generate soft-power diplomacy”. “The success of Qatar in hosting many international events for example will give more prestige and a good image of Qatar in the international arena,” the ambassador said. “The FIFA World Cup 2022, of which Qatar is the host, is another example of how sports plays an essential role in diplomacy.”    

The 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Qatar and Japan yesterday highlights the two countries’ strong and deep-rooted ties – seen to reach greater heights in a post-pandemic era. “Japan was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Qatar following its independence, and today after 50 years, we can probably say that our relations with Qatar is at its best,” Japanese ambassador Satoshi Maeda said at a reception held at Msheireb Downtown Doha on Friday. The event, which was attended by HE Dr Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Regional Affairs; Ministry of Foreign Affairs chief of protocol, ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro; and ambassadors from different embassies in Doha; among other guests, also hosted a “Together to the Future – Projection Mapping Event” and a cultural presentation as part of the celebration. Speaking to reporters, HE Minister Dr al-Khulaifi expressed confidence that Qatar will enhance commercial and investment cooperation with Japan, “hoping that we can touched-based on other aspects as well in the future.” “We are enhancing (our relations) more on cultural and educational sides but we are quite open for further ways of collaboration with Japan as we know that this is a very important country for the State of Qatar,” HE the Minister said, adding that expanding these aspects in different angles will open more doors and opportunities for both countries. Maeda noted that the two countries witnessed their first strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers of Japan and Qatar last year, “which is based on the comprehensive partnership that was declared in 2013 and later reinforced in 2015”. “Friendship, support, and above all, trust are the words that best describe our relations with Qatar,” the envoy stressed, noting that Qatar proved to be “a true friend to Japan” not only delivering a stable supply of LNG over the years – which supported Japan’s economic growth for several years – but also “at the time of real need”. He said that Qatar was one of the first countries to help Japan when an earthquake struck its eastern part in 2011, and also boosting its recovery with an additional supply of 4bn tonnes of LNG and assistance of $100 million in aid – which “Japan will never forget.” On the other hand, Maeda said that at the same time, Japan has been supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030, citing that this National Vision, “which emphasizes social and environmental development, industrial diversification, and human resource development”, present a huge opportunity for the countries to expand their cooperation on these fields. “It is true that economic exchange has been the backbone of our relationship for more than five decades, however, as the international community undergoes major changes such as globalisation, the shifting balance of power, the rapid development in digital technology, and environmental issues that were never as imminent as today, both Japan and Qatar must tackle various challenges in order to adopt to all these issues,” the envoy said. “Through such efforts by our two countries, I believe that Japan and Qatar relations have come to a point where both countries can build a new strategic relationship beyond the energy security. “And already looking ahead to a post-pandemic era, our bilateral relations will be further strengthened through heartwarming people-to-people exchanges,” Maeda stressed. With less than 10 months to go for the hosting of the first FIFA World Cup in the region, he said he feel excited and fortunate to be in Qatar “in this landmark year and I truly hope that Japan’s National Team will make it to the prestigious football tournament in Qatar. “Our heart is full of abundant memories of 50 years and our eyes are already aiming for the next phase of the relationship, (dubbed as) “Together to the Future”,” he said. Maeda thanked Japanese companies that significantly contributed to the development of Qatar’s infrastructure, and the Qatari companies as well “that were loyal to Japanese products all those years and great people of both countries who proved that borders and language difference are of no significance for the friendship to prosper”.  

The second edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF 2022) has brought together some talented Qatari and expatriate artists, putting a spotlight on Qatar’s rich equestrian heritage and vibrant art scene. “The first edition (of KIAHF) was very successful and the second is more energetic; more people are excited to come and see the show and the best thing is that more artistic work is involved,” Middle-East Art and Silk Painters (MAPS) founder and president Rashmi Agarwal told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the festival. She noted that some 15 Doha-based artists from various expatriate communities and five Qatari artists are taking part in this year’s live saddle painting competition. Agarwal noted that KIAHF – an 11-day festival running until February 12 at the Katara Esplanade – serves an ideal platform for artists in Qatar to showcase their creativity and promote their works. “We are thankful to Katara – the Cultural Village because they always create something unique and new, giving opportunities to everyone and this is a very nice thing,” she said. According to Agarwal, the artists’ ingenuity is reflected in each of the horse’s accessories, applying various media (such as oil and acrylic) and techniques. Apart from the live saddle painting competition, KIAHF also showcases the works of Qatari artist Ahmed al-Maadheed, who became popular for his ‘Tamim Al Majd’ portrair, as well as other artists from Qatar and the region. A number of Qatari artists are also participating in a live horse painting event. Agarwal lauded the latest edition of KIAHF, saying it continues to attract more participants, as well as visitors, in addition to being well-organised and adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols imposed by the Ministry of Public Health. “More people are involved and they are very excited to see this festival,” she said. Agarwal stressed that Katara is also an excellent location for a world-class event like KIAHF, offering the best facilities and atmosphere for participants, including artists and visitors. “The ambiance is soothing and comforting,” she said, adding that such an atmosphere boosts artists’ creativity. Agarwal expressed optimism that KIAHF will continue to become bigger every year and attract more participants from different regions across the world. The festival, being held under the generous patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, also features shepherds’ tents and food & beverage stalls, which showcase and offer several products and services, including horse-related books.

Doha Environmental Actions Project’s (Deap Qatar) beach cleanup drives have continuously brought together volunteers and representatives from various communities and institutions in the country, collecting waste from different locations since the start of this year. Some 18 volunteers and personnel from the Ministry of Municipality took part in an activity on January 6 that collected 250kg of waste at Qatar’s Singing Sand Dunes (around 40km southwest of Doha), while another 30kg was collected at Jebel Fuwayrit, led by 13 volunteers. Deap Qatar volunteers at Freiha archeological site A beach cleanup drive last month, which saw the participation of volunteers and families from the US embassy in Doha, collected 200kg of trash at Freiha, a small village on Qatar’s northwestern coast. “We want to thank the charge d’affaires of the US embassy in Qatar, Natalie A Baker, for leading by example, and supporting our efforts to raise environmental awareness,” Deap Qatar said in an Instagram post. In the same month, Deap Qatar held similar activities at the famous Al Thakira, aimed at protecting Qatar’s marine life and natural resources, particularly its mangroves. “Today, we did a family cleanup while we explored Qatar’s beautiful mangroves. We found a place where you could clearly see people had been there recently. You could see the coals from their fire, and all the trash from their BBQ. Let’s camp and picnic responsibly, so we can keep Qatar clean and beautiful for generations to come,” Deap Qatar said, as it highlighted the importance of raising public awareness on the dangers caused by plastic pollution and its negative impact on the environment and wildlife. Beach cleanup activities, which see the participation of different expatriate groups such as the Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar and Tropang Kabayan sa Qatar (Filipino expatriates), were also held in other locations such as Umm Bab, Qatari heritage village of Al Jumail and Freiha Archeological Site, among other sites. Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani also took part in a number of Deap Qatar activities in January this year. Deap Qatar is set to organise a family-friendly beach cleanup at Al Zubarah tomorrow from 2.45pm to 4pm. As the last 500m can be bumpy, it suggests volunteers use SUVs or sedans with enough clearance. Participants are required to bring their own gloves and should follow Covid-19 protocols such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing, besides showing the green code on the Ehteraz app.

Qatar Tourism is making an extraordinary effort in destination marketing and promoting the country as a family, leisure, business and sports destination, a senior hotelier has said. “Various activities are organised aimed at promoting the destination, i.e. Shop Qatar, Qatar International Food Festival, Qatar Balloon Festival, sports tournaments and other exhibitions,” Aurelio Giraudo, cluster general manager at Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb and La Cigale Hotel managed by Accor, told Gulf Times. Several events were held in Doha last year, including exhibitions and festivals leading to and during the FIFA Arab Cup in the last quarter, further boosting the hospitality, tourism, retail and other sectors, it is learnt. Giraudo underlined the strong partnership between Qatar Tourism and hotels in Doha, including Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb and La Cigale Hotel managed by Accor, in making these events successful to further strengthen Qatar’s position as a favourite tourism destination. Like other hotels in Doha, he noted that they participate in all the fairs in conjunction with Qatar Tourism, as well as making hotel representation at the ILTM Cannes. “Both our hotels are listed on the Visit Qatar website and app. We have also done joint venture marketing activities with Qatar Tourism and participated in the 'World Class Chefs' initiative wherein we have organised 'four-hands' Michelin Star events at Il Galante and also launched Vertigo, a panoramic rooftop lounge at Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb,” Giraudo said. Qatar also hosted one of the most anticipated events this month – the 31st edition of Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre – attracting a large number of participants and visitors while adhering to Covid-19 protocols imposed by the Ministry of Public Health. Up next is the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, taking place in February, and a series of other events are also expected to take place in the country this year. About the hotels' forecasts (in general) for the first quarter considering the third wave of Covid-19 in Qatar, Giraudo said: “We have realigned our forecast for both the hotels based on the current market dynamics and new precautionary measures, which will now come into place. We had forecast higher numbers from the GCC markets, especially the Saudi market due to the school holidays, from mid-January until the first week of February and from the UAE market. However, as both these countries have now moved to the Red List, we had to adjust our forecasts."    

Various Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture initiatives and activities received positive reactions across the US, highlighting the continuous cultural exchange and further strengthening of relations between the two countries, US embassy in Doha charge d’affaires Natalie A Baker has said. “They promote awareness and education about each other’s cultures and history, now we are seeing that we’re having museum exchanges,” the envoy said, noting that some museums from different states in the US such as California, Washington DC, New York, and Mississippi are expected to visit Doha and hold discussions with Qatar Museums. “The reception has been very positive and this is great in the leading up to the World Cup because we expect to have many US fans come out for the 2022 World Cup in Doha,” she added. Part of the Year of Culture programme in the US included Calli-graffiti (held throughout 2021 from Jersey City to different cities), a multi-city installation of street art that blends calligraphy and the Arabic language, as inspired by French-Tunisian artist eL Seed; Dessert Recipe Tradeoff (Spring 2021), chefs from both countries were challenged to make traditional desserts from the US and Qatar; Pearls of Wonder (Fall 2021), a pop-up exhibition in New York City featured works by Qatari artists inspired by the history of the pearling industry in Qatar; Desert Drive-In Cultural Exchange (Fall 2021) outside of Los Angeles at Hummingbird Ranch, a film screening programme inspired by the rich history of nomadic Bedouin culture where guests got the chance to enjoy films in an outdoor desert-like environment; Desert Racing (Fall/Winter 2021), a unique experience underlining the shared love of car racing in both Qatar and the US through a series of races featuring Qatari and American drivers; and Made in Qatar (November 2021), a screening event showcased the works of Qatari filmmakers and accompanied talks at the Qatar America Institute for Culture in Washington, DC, among others. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC, and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha also collaborated in holding an exhibition of exceptional textiles from the collection of MIA in Washington. “We are very proud of all the activities that occurred in our Year of Culture from the beginning of 2021. Even up until now we’ve been celebrating all aspects of our cultures both here in Doha but also across cities in the US. “That included food festivals, we had musical exchanges, we had different speakers come from all cultural backgrounds, including music and arts, we had fashion designers focused on sustainable fashion design in apparel, again they visited here some of the beautiful cultural Qatar museums such as Katara, they went to Msheireb, and then in the US we had activities everywhere from New York to Los Angeles, across the coasts,” Baker said. She stressed that the relations between Qatar and the US “are stronger than ever”, and different activities will be taking place this year as it marks the 20th anniversary of the US mission in Doha. “We are pleased to be here and we look forward to additional cultural exchanges and events throughout the year,” the envoy said.

The 31st edition of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) provides an opportunity to exchange literature, introduce young children to reading, and promote the rich culture and heritage of various countries, three diplomats have said. “As I walk around the exhibition, I was very impressed by the quality of the booths, they are just beautiful and well-constructed but also the variety of books that are available here,” US embassy chargé d’affaires Natalie A Baker said, describing DIBF as a landmark event and a world-renowned book fair. US embassy charge? d’affaires Natalie A Baker “We are very proud to be a participant… and to walk around and see books from all over the world, from Turkey to India to Italy, France, and the US, and Qatar of course is so wonderful,” she added. “I hope to walk around the booths even more to spend more time to listen to the music that is playing in the background but also to read some of the literature that comes from across the world that’s available here.” The event, being held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, opened on January 13 and will run until January 22 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC). Themed 'Knowledge is Light', it features literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. The US booth, designed by celebrated Arab-American designer Christina Khater and located at the entrance of Hall 3 at DECC, also serves as an attraction at DIBF due to its unique and futuristic design. “We also have solar panels outside of the booth and so that also emphasises our commitment to sustainable development and to fighting climate change,” the envoy said. Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas lauded the book fair saying that he was “impressed with the quality and quantity of exhibitors, and it caters to a lot of different tastes, from children to adults.” “I saw that the Arab Centre for Policy and Research is also participating, so you have the high-end universities, academic institutions, all the way to children’s books, it is really looking very promising,” he said. The Embassy of Italy in Doha, in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Culture, will officially present on January 17 (10.30am) at DIBF the Arabic translation of two books by Italian writer Gianni Rodari, 1970 winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award – the Nobel Prize for children’s literature. South Korean ambassador Lee Joon-ho said a well-organised event like the DIBF is an ideal platform to promote cultural exchange between countries. He said around 10 Korean publishing companies are taking part in the event, showcasing various book categories like novels, tourism, culture, economy, history, and children’s books with English and Arabic translations.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the 31st edition of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) was inaugurated by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani on Thursday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event, held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', features literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. Organised by the Ministry of Culture's Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, the fair will run until January 22. HE the Prime Minister toured the different pavilions and was briefed on the latest publications displayed at the annual exhibition – dubbed as “one of the oldest and largest international book fairs in the region.” He was accompanied by HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani and other dignitaries. Apart from books, the DIBF also hosts several sections for visitors to explore such as the Children's Creators Garden, Akkas Centre, Youth Hobbies Centre, and the Visual Arts Centre, among others. It is also set to hold a series of seminars and lectures in the coming days. The US is the guest of honour at the exhibition this year as part of the Qatar – USA Year of Culture 2021. “At the Book Fair, we have 7,000 books in our booth and that represents 750 publishers. This Book Fair is the long-standing cornerstone of the US – Qatar partnership and serves as the ideal activity for our Qatar – USA Year of Culture,” US embassy in Doha chargé d’affaires Natalie A Baker told reporters on the sidelines of DIBF’s opening. “Our Year of Culture last year highlighted our rich cultural exchange in science, fashion, dance, music, food, and the arts, and with this theme this year, we are also celebrating Arab – American culture because the designer of our booth is an Arab – American woman named Christina Khater,” the envoy said. “She has done a lot of efforts to advance women’s empowerment so all of these themes are represented in our booth today”. The futuristic design of the US booth at the exhibition underlines “how literacy and learning are key tools for innovation and enabling humanity to reach its highest potential”, she added. “As we join the people of Qatar over the next week and a half to celebrate literacy and learning, our goal during the 31st Doha International Book Fair is to encourage literacy, professional development, and academic exchange between our two nations,” Baker said. The US booth offers an array of books on fiction, non-fiction, history, biographies, renowned and American leaders, as well as books for young adults and children, and those who are just learning to read. “We have a wide variety of educational books… so this is really a rich display of American authors and literature in our booth today,” the envoy added. Besides the thousands of books for sale at the US booth, the US embassy is also planning to hold various activities such as film showings, English language learning, EducationUSA advising, and consular information sessions. The US Air Forces (AFCENT) Band will also be playing a range of music on January 16 at 8.10pm. The DIBF also serves as one of the highlights of Qatar – USA 2021 Year of Culture, and marks the 50th year of strong bilateral relations between the two countries, according to Baker. Organisers noted that DIBF 2022 witnessed the biggest number of participants with several foreign publishing houses and embassies in Doha in attendance, and “presents an extraordinary edition in terms of in quantity, form, and quality.” Apart from the US and Italy, it is learnt that the embassies of Palestine, Syria, Japan, South Korea, the Kyrgyz Republic, Indonesia, and Russia, as well as the participation of Azerbaijan represented by the Ministry of Culture, have ‘broader participation’ at DIBF 2022. The Embassy of Italy in Doha is taking part in the event, featuring a national booth entirely dedicated to children’s books. It is also hosting an exhibition of the works of Italian authors and illustrators of children’s books, as well as readings and workshops. Educational institutions including Qatar University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University are also taking part in the event, displaying a wide range of book categories, published in Arabic and English.    

The Embassy of Italy in Qatar has set up a national booth entirely dedicated to children’s books at the 31st Doha International Book Fair, putting a spotlight on the importance of early childhood education and rights promotion. “Our aim is to introduce children to reading and we do that through a number of activities, subject to the latest regulations by Qatar health authorities,” Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event’s opening at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on Thursday. He said a leading Italian and international centre for the defence and promotion of children’s rights and potentials, ‘Reggio Children’, came to Qatar to organise and manage the Italian pavilion at DIBF. “They developed a teaching method that is internationally recognised that is very good for young children, it is being exported to countries like the US, and they came here,” noted Prunas. Dubbed as the ‘Reggio Emilia Approach’, this famous educational project “has become a reference point throughout the world, develops and renews each day in Reggio Emilia’s municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools.” According to the embassy, the Italian booth aims to “introduce children to reading by offering them a space for active exploration and learning through Italian books, illustrations, and workshops. Special attention will be also dedicated to introducing new methods, books, and tools to educators.” The embassy also wants to organise drawing and book reading for children in Italian, English, and Arabic languages at the booth. “We brought some Italian books for children that are also translated in Arabic and English. If the situation allows, we will also organise reading activities because we have people who came for this,” Prunas said. “We fully support these (Covid-19) measures but we are trying to find solutions for the children to take part.” The embassy’s first-ever participation at DIBF this year – also marks the 30th anniversary of the Italian embassy’s opening in Doha in March 1992 – forms part of a joint project with Qatar’s Ministry of Culture back in October 2020 during the visit of Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni in Qatar. It will be presented on January 17 at 10.30am at the book fair’s conference venue. The Italian booth features two exhibitions of children’s illustrations, including that of Italian writer Gianni Rodari. He won the 1970 Hans Christian Andersen Award – the Nobel Prize for children’s literature, “La torta in cielo” (The Cake in the Sky) and “Fiabe lunghe un sorriso” (Fairy tales long a smile). Visitors will also have the chance to witness live digital painting sessions daily by Italian artist Enrica Pizzicori, who specialised in children’s illustrations and author of the booth’s main logo.    

The current situation in Kazakhstan will not in any way affect the strong bilateral relations with Qatar, Kazakhstan ambassador Arman Issagaliyev has said. “We are confident that 2022 will be a breakthrough year for the bilateral relations of our countries. We expect an exchange of high-level visits that will mark a new era of Kazakh-Qatari co-operation,” the envoy told Gulf Times. During these visits, Issagaliyev said about 20 important intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements are expected to be signed in the field of investment protection and promotion, finance, Islamic economy, agriculture, mining and metallurgy, military and military-technical co-operation, healthcare, tourism, education, science, and sports. Apart from creating a joint investment fund and implementing major projects, he said they also plan to hold a meeting of the Kazakh-Qatari intergovernmental commission on co-operation, open the first Qatari bank in Kazakhstan, and expand air links between the two countries. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the envoy noted that “2021 was marked by a significant intensification of bilateral co-operation, which reached a qualitatively new level. “This year, a large number of important high-level visits took place, among which I would like to highlight two visits of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to Nur Sultan and the visit of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov to Doha. “Successful negotiations between our national companies took place, and representatives of private business made working trips to both countries. The activity of the Kazakh-Qatari Business Council has been resumed, the volume of trade turnover is growing”. One of the highlights of Qatar – Kazakhstan ties this year, Issagaliyev said, is the opening of a direct flight of Qatar Airways to Kazakhstan – an important step that will “contribute to the intensification of our co-operation in all spheres”. The envoy added that: “His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have been in constant contact by phone for a year, coordinating joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all spheres. “The leaders of our countries confirmed the existence of a serious potential for filling the Kazakh-Qatari cooperation with new content. His Highness was one of the first foreign leaders to react to the situation in our country and expressed confidence in the ability of the Kazakh authorities to overcome the current crisis. “During a telephone conversation between His Highness and our President, they confirmed their intention to further develop cooperation between our countries. We are very grateful to His Highness for his words of support during this difficult time for us”.

While January and February forecasts may be lower for the hospitality industry in Qatar and the Mena region amid the onslaught of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, “the rest of the year looks very promising” and the demand is expected “to pick up very strongly leading up to the FIFA 2022 World Cup”, a senior hotelier has said. Aurelio Giraudo, cluster general manager at Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb & La Cigale Hotel managed by Accor, told Gulf Times that he sees 2022 to be a remarkable year for Qatar, citing that 1.2mn visitors are likely to travel to the country for the showpiece event. “Before that there are lots of other events planned as well, which in return will generate demand for the hospitality industry and boost tourism i.e. Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition, Doha Book Fair, Katara Arabian Horse Festival, Dimdex, Milipol, Fencing Grand Prix, Tennis and Table Tennis Tournaments, Al Shaqab, MotoGP, Diamond League, World Padel Tour, Qatar Masters – Golf and other events,” noted Giraudo, who was earlier with The Regency Hotel in Kuwait as general manager and director of Business Development. It is learnt that several other events are lined up in the coming months before the much-anticipated sports event, taking place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18. According to Giraudo, Doha is expected to be full during the FIFA World Cup 2022, and football fans will have an exceptional variety of accommodation options to choose from. Besides hotels, he added that visitors can choose accommodation on cruise liners, hotel apartments, fan villages with an Arabian desert vibe, as well as stays in private homes. “16 floating hotels will also be built, providing around 1,600 rooms in total.” “Tourism sector will be booming during the World Cup period and fans can enjoy from sampling the local cuisine to exploring the iconic museums, exhilarating dune bashing and relaxing in the spa or at the beach, there is something for everyone. Exciting times ahead,” Giraudo said. About the impact of a Covid-19 third wave on the overall hospitality industry, he said hotels in Qatar and the region have revised revenue forecasts, keeping in view the current wave, and have started working on cost controlling measures. “Though it was in the back of our mind that Covid-19 is still around, however, we had not forecasted such a strong third wave. The Qatar government has strongly supported the hospitality industry in the previous years by organising sports tournaments in either biosecure or semi bubble environment and we foresee same trends to continue. With vaccine and booster shots, we are more prepared to handle the third wave,” Giraudo stressed. Apart from the usual mandatory wearing of masks and social distancing, he said that brands and hotels have worked hard to upgrade their protocols (and will continue to do so) in this pandemic to ensure the safety of guests. Giraudo underlined the importance of safety measures such as communicating with guests, implementation of digital check-in, using QR codes for food and spa menus, food delivery sales, packaged catering, plated buffets, and the introduction of robot waiter. For colleagues, he said the company is flexible with work from home culture for the administrative team.

Qatar’s domestic agricultural production has remained stable amid the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global logistics and supply chains, an expert has told Gulf Times. Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf, also the managing director of Agrico, said this resiliency of Qatar’s local agri production is one of the milestones the country’s agricultural sector has achieved at the height of the global health crisis and in 2021. “The local production has shown its stability in production although the international supply chain and logistics industry was paralysed during the Covid-19 pandemic,” al-Khalfa stressed. Asked to provide an outlook for Qatar's agricultural sector in relation to the increasing demand for fresh produce and the country’s food security strategy, al-Khalaf underscored the role of government legislation to curb delays in production. “I believe if we do not start quickly and issue complete agricultural legislations to support the farmers in production and sales, we would see a drop in production of local fruits and vegetables,” he noted. According to al-Khalaf, in the pipeline are several major agricultural projects and initiatives by Agrico, as well as upcoming projects this year. “We will see early this year Agrico’s first shrimp production in the market, which will supply 30% of the market demand,” he said. Agrico, a private Qatari agricultural development company established in 2011 aimed at helping the country achieve food security, is also exporting its hydroponics farming technology in the region. A 1mn sqm hydroponic farm currently being developed in Oman is expected to start operating this year, according to al-Khalaf. Agrico will also be in charge of the farm’s operation and marketing.

Qatar’s hospitality and tourism industries will witness a significant recovery in 2022 due to the upcoming major events in the country and several other factors, a senior hotelier has told Gulf Times. “The general outlook for Qatar’s hospitality sector looks positive, the expectations are to exceed the 2019 spending levels in 2022," Movenpick Hotel Doha’s general manager Sami Aawar explained. “This is driven by many factors, starting with the high profile planned events, the expected completion of many projects, the logistics preparation/events prior to and during the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar,” the hotelier said. “Coupled with the strict and safe local Covid-19 policies, I believe, the tourism sector will experience a steady obvious improvement throughout 2022”. Aawar said that Qatar is looking forward to welcome numerous hotels with more than 9,000 rooms in the coming years, noting that “Lusail, West Bay, and The Pearl Qatar mainly will get many new openings, some will be in the four-star segment and the rest fall into the luxury type”. It is learnt that the recently held FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 served as a windfall for several hotels, as well as restaurants, increasing their occupancy prior and during the event. About initiatives to further boost these sectors, he noted that “tourism is visibly supported in Doha in terms of events, exhibitions and recently for the first time, the Qatar Travel Mart. “Moreover, a new recreational line started to be more visible, where more resorts with water parks are opened and some planned in 2022”. Since Qatar serves as a hub for trade and travel for multiple destinations, Aawar said the Qatar government did “a solid approach in implementing a cohesive general action plan that covered different sectors in parallel to the health division”. “One of the successful actions was the ‘Welcome Home Quarantine Programme’, managed by Discover Qatar. This drive allowed Qatar to take control of the access to and from the country and at the same time limit the spread of the virus. “Moreover, it allowed the hotels optionally to be part of this programme, which supported the hospitality sector positively and permitted the hotels to maintain a good level of occupancy.”

The second edition of the Qatar Balloon Festival, held from December 9-18, received positive feedback from the public with its 35 hot air balloons soaring across the skies of Doha for 10 days. “Our first edition was a great success, and we have seen a great increase in public attention with our second edition of the festival. We are happy with the progress we are making,” the organisers told *Gulf Times. “Our fan base has tripled this year, with balloon rides sold out prior to festival start date.” “We had hundreds of people reaching out to us with positive feedback and thousands of social media posts and videos,” they added. The festival, organised by Safe Flight Solutions, Asfary.com, and Fusion Technology, in collaboration with Qatar Tourism and Aspire Zone Foundation, coincided with four major events in the country: the Qatar International Food Festival, the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, Qatar Live 2021, and the Qatar National Day celebrations. Many residents, including commuters and those who regularly go to public parks, were excited to see the balloons in the sky early in the morning, and many posted pictures and videos on social media. According to the organisers, the event also featured “Night Glows” at Aspire Park for visitors to enjoy “a unique sighting of balloons next to each other, with the pilots making sure that they are glowing in the dark in perfect rhythm”. This activity is “accompanied by the festival’s musical events from the main stage, creating a lovely atmosphere and an experience like no other”. This year’s festival also showcased various entertainment and other side events at Aspire Park, such as live performances (music bands), roving jugglers and mascots, an inflatable playground for children, and food offerings. “Qatar is the perfect location for ballooning activities with its perfect weather and amazing landscape,” the organisers said. “We aspire to be part of the main activities during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.” “We would be honoured to organise this festival, and with our valued partners and sponsors' support, everything is possible,” they added.

Lulu Hypermarket kicked off recently a new promotion of Italian food products, giving shoppers the opportunity to explore not only a wide range of authentic Italian food products but its rich culinary heritage. Titled “Festive Season, Enjoy the best of Italy,” the event is being held in co-operation with the Italian Trade Agency (trade promotion section of the Italian embassy in Qatar) until December 30 to mark the festive season and boost the sales of Italian food products in Qatar. “This is a very fruitful relationship we established with LuLu, in particular with farmers’ association, Coldiretti (Italy’s national association of farmers representing 500,000 producers)… it is something that is also benefitting the consumers because they don’t have so many sorts of middleman dealing with it. “It is also a way of allowing brands that are not necessarily large and well-known but that ensure very high quality to have access to this market so it is a win-win situation for the three parties: for LuLu, the Italian farmers, and the consumers in Qatar,” said Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas. The envoy inaugurated the event at Lulu Hypermarket, Abu Sidra branch. The occasion had Augusta Smargiassi, Italian Trade Commissioner to Qatar, officials from ITA and Italian embassy, and dignitaries from the retail sector in attendance. The campaign showcases a wide range of Italian products, including dry groceries, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, cheese and other dairy products, biscuits, coffee, olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, chocolate, sauces, spices, and condiments, among others. LuLu noted that this initiative was “designed to promote and taste a wide range of ‘Italian products while telling the unique story of the extraordinary Italian gastronomic heritage. Irrespective of the nationality, commonly people eat Italian food; because it is healthy, of high quality, and meets safety and environmental standards”. Exports of Italian agro-food to Qatar continue to grow year on year despite challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic – a “major indicator of recognition of quality and excellence of Italian products”. “There has been a surging demand and recognition for the products of Italian origin. This is an opportunity for promoting excellent Italian products in Qatar. Thanks to the efforts of the Italian Trade Agency. “Italian food products are very popular in our market and other markets across the world for its excellent quality, highest safety standards, and wide varieties; and there is an ever-increasing demand for good quality Italian food products in Qatar and in the region. “Since we started trade relations with Italy, we have been able to take our partnership forward by bringing in the most authentic Italian food products to Qatar. In addition, we have been able to bring all functional food categories – gluten-free, organic, and other healthy ranges,” the statement indicates,” the LuLu Group management said in a statement. LuLu Group noted that it initiated extensive promotional campaigns through in-store branding, newspapers, and radio ads, social media, booklets, and google ads to make Italian food more popular among the local community. As part of strengthening its long-standing business relations with Italy, Lulu Group added that it is now setting up its export logistics centre at the World Trade Centre in Milan, which is expected to be operational soon. According to Prunas, establishing such centre in Milan means “that this relationship will be continuing in the future and will actually grow more and more, and we have confirmation of this with the figures, which shows that there is a constant increase in consumption of agro-food products from Italy. “This is mainly due to LuLu’s activity, not just Lulu of course, it is actually helping a lot to make our products be available in Qatar.” Lulu Group has a comprehensive network of Export Distribution Centres in 22 countries, including state-of-the-art facilities in the UK, US, and Spain, the statement added.