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Qatar’s retail industry’s “positive performance” during the World Cup could achieve a growth rate that could offset the impact of Covid-19 on the local market, an industry stakeholder has said.According to Shareef BC, CEO of Grand Mall Hyper Markets Qatar, some of the indirect beneficiaries of Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup were sectors in the business community specialising in the production, distribution, and, service industries, among others.To capitalise on the influx of millions of tourists and fans of the World Cup, Shareef said Grand Mall Hyper Markets Qatar launched several promos, including a year-long campaign titled ‘Let’s Football’, as well as cash prizes, among other initiatives.In the wake of the World Cup, which concluded on Qatar National Day, Shareef said “a smaller decline in demand is natural.”“But the basic economic situation prior to the World Cup still will be there and all retailers have their respective plans of action to retain business. To attract customers, there will still be overaggressive daily and weekend promotions and on different occasions to fill the gap. Retailers will also ensure prompt product availability and variety to attract more customers,” Shareef told Gulf Times.Shareef also stressed that Grand Mall Hyper Markets Qatar was well-prepared for a larger customer footfall, especially from World Cup fans and other foreigners visiting the country.“Like other retailers in the country, we also had done enough homework to meet the special demands expected during the World Cup. We always co-ordinated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and suppliers during the preparatory period in terms of policies and other actions for ensuring that products are sufficient and delivered on time. Our external sourcing chains were also kept on alert to ensure that there are no gaps and buffer stocks were available. We also rented new warehouses and maintained optimum utilisation of existing facilities,” Shareef said.He added: “To meet these demands, we even extended our operations to 24 hours. We opened new outlets at Barahat Al Junoob, exclusively for the FIFA international security and volunteers staying in the UCC accommodation based on the demand by the authorities.“This outlet catered to people staying there who had no other option to source their needs, earning us the praise of concerned authorities. Our outlets at Asian Town, Barwa Affordable, and Mekaines were fan zones. Though there were some restrictions during match days, we also met the demands of customers there.”

Buoyed its achievements in 2022, which witnessed the country’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) is looking at Q1 2023 as “a springboard to further success in another year.”“Let us hope that the quarters ahead bring prosperity to investors and promise more success to Qatar,” IPA Qatar stated in its Fourth Quarter Newsletter, which enumerates the agency’s accomplishments during the period.IPA Qatar stated: “The past few months have seen Qatar shine on the global stage as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, bringing the world together in one city to experience the region’s welcoming hospitality and culture.”While Qatar was in the global focus courtesy of a hectic World Cup schedule, IPA Qatar noted that it was equally busy in Q4 with the launch of three new ‘How to Guides’ for setting up business, hiring, and living in Qatar, as well as 12 new sectoral studies highlighting the many lucrative opportunities across sectors in the country.“Our global outreach efforts took us to Asia to participate in the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH). IPA Qatar hosted a panel discussion and an interactive booth, in collaboration with QFZA and Media City, underscoring the role of Qatari business and licensing platforms in supporting companies within Qatar’s business ecosystem.“In an effort to give back to the community we serve, IPA Qatar employees participated in beach cleaning efforts near Al Zubarah, Qatar’s largest archaeological site. With the help of volunteers from the Doha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP), the IPA Qatar team removed hundreds of kilos of plastic, glass, and other trash from the beach next to the Unesco World Heritage Site in early November,” the newsletter stated.The agency also noted that a major highlight of Q4 is Qatar’s surging economy, “which reflected greater resilience as Qatar entered a historic phase by organising the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East.”Citing Fitch Solutions, IPA Qatar stated the country “will experience a ‘net positive impact’ resulting in a boost to its economy, trade relations, and investments while the world turns its focus to the region.”IPA Qatar added: “Trying to leverage the opportunities offered by this grand sporting festival, our team has been working to promote Qatar’s supportive business climate among potential investors and partners.“The Planning and Statistics Authority’s latest estimates of GDP for the second quarter of 2022 show solid growth of 6.3% y-o-y due to strong non-hydrocarbon sector growth of 9.7% y-o-y, namely in construction, trade, transportation, and real estate, a testament to the fertile investment environment of Qatar.”

The memorable experiences that fans and tourists got from Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will significantly boost the country’s image under the international spotlight.At the same time, Qatar’s travel and tourism industry is expected to witness growth next year in the wake of the “best World Cup ever,” which was effectively delivered by Qatar and its hospitable citizens and residents, according to Tawfeeq Travel Group CEO Rehan Ali Syed.Syed pointed out that the positive response of fans and tourists from their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 also provides added value to different businesses and companies in Qatar’s tourism, travel, and hospitality, as well as commercial and retail sectors.“After a successful tournament, I strongly believe that this has given Qatar the right to boost its image. Fans and visitors enjoyed every moment of their presence in Qatar and they even applauded the facilities extended by the authorities,” Syed told Gulf Times.He said: “We had very positive feedback from our customers and they wanted to come for a longer duration to enjoy and explore this wonderful country; it was very evident in this short time. Souq Waqif has become the talk of the town. Similarly, the guests want to come back and explore many more places in Qatar.”Syed also expressed optimism that by hosting a world-class and memorable FIFA World Cup, Qatar has effectively cemented its place on the global map as a tourist destination.“In times to come, I am confident that Qatar will become a destination for tourists to explore and a meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination for many corporates,” he emphasised.Syed also forecasts a bright 2023 for the country’s travel and tourism industry: “If the government continues to extend seamless travel and opens up the country to visitors without any restrictions, we can look forward to a strong 2023 with nothing but only growth, growth, and more growth.”He added: “I believe this is the year we should be able to cross our pre-Covid-19 levels and raise the bar. There are already several events lined up to lure visitors to Qatar next year, such as Doha Expo, World Table Tennis Championship, Qatar Tennis Open, Formula One, Qatar Travel Mart, and several construction-related projects and exhibitions.”

Key stakeholders and players in Qatar’s travel and tourism sector are hopeful that 2023 would usher in more industry-related activities, such as tours and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), among others.KV Abdul Nazar, chairman & managing director of Akbar Travels of India & Akbar Group, told Gulf Times Tuesday that the movement in the travel and tourism market has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.“There is a post-Covid-19 demand, which is consistent, but still travel has not reached pre-pandemic levels. I hope in this coming year, we would expect high volume group movements, such as shutdown projects, tourism groups, and MICE traffic, as well as wedding groups from India,” Nazar explained.In the wake of Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, Nazar noted that the tournament had a positive impact on the performance of the country’s travel and tourism industry as millions of fans and visitors arrived here to witness “the world’s greatest sports event,” which was held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world.“We had very positive results on our bottom lines as we had catered to the demand from our vast network of offices. I am sure it was the same with my industry colleagues; we were all overwhelmed by the demand,” Nazar pointed out.Nazar also noted that Qatar’s travel and tourism industry performed well for the entire year resulting from the gradual uptick in passenger movement in airports worldwide amid limitations from Covid-19 policies.“The travel industry is seeing a recovery, which has been termed as ‘revenge travel’. We have seen growing demands for travel to many destinations, which is something positive and it will be an ongoing trend. The World Cup definitely was a demand we had seen coming. Apart from that post-Covid period, we are seeing a surge in travel,” Nazar emphasised.According to Nazar, while it is too early to gauge if the travel and tourism industry in Qatar has recovered completely from pandemic-related losses, “nevertheless, the World Cup had definitely created a demand for the travel industry.”He added: “As there is a travel surge worldwide, the ripples will also be seen in Qatar in the coming years, and we are very optimistic about it.”

Major players in Qatar’s travel industry, including stakeholders, such as agents engaged in operating destination management companies (DMCs), benefited greatly from the recently concluded FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, an industry expert has said.“The recently concluded FIFA World Cup has been phenomenal and a boon to the travel industry in Qatar, especially for the agents who have been engaged in DMC operations. Although outbound travel has seen a slump, inbound travel in Qatar, however, has seen considerable growth in the last three months,” Tawfeeq Travel Group CEO Rehan Ali Syed told Gulf Times Monday.He said: “The start of 2022 was not that good for the industry since the initial few months were impacted by the Omicron variant. But with summer travel, the entire fraternity has seen tremendous growth way above our expectations compared to last year. However, the last quarter saw a drop again in outbound travel due to the restrictions on travel from various organisation to manage FIFA requirements.”According to Syed, Qatar has seen “a major recovery” in 2022 compared to last year, adding that overall, “it has been a mixed year” for the country’s travel and tourism industry.“The numbers are encouraging. However, we have still not managed to go beyond the pre-Covid-19 levels. In the initial months and pre-FIFA period, there has been a slowdown with expats opting to stay back in Qatar to experience the World Cup rather than travelling abroad. One of the other major factors that impacted outbound travel has been soaring airline prices,” Syed explained.Asked if the FIFA World Cup helped the travel and tourism industries make up for their losses from the Covid-19 pandemic, Syed said: “No, we still have not managed to reach the pre-Covid-19 levels.”He said: “However, the 1.4mn visitors experiencing Qatar’s hospitality did give us a boost during the last month during the FIFA World Cup. The local industry was further impacted by the fans opting to stay in other GCC countries and doing shuttle flights. The non-availability of hotel rooms during the initial period caused a major dent in the business.“Since most of the inventory was taken over by match hospitality, we, as local agents, couldn’t get our hands on the hotel rooms. Generally, fans coming from western countries seem to confirm their travel arrangements in advance to secure the best deals.”

LuLu Group is aligning its expansion plans alongside the North Field development, the largest ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the world, in anticipation of population growth in the Al Dhakhira area in Al Khor. Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, made the statement on the sidelines of the opening of LuLu’s latest and 22nd hypermarket in the country in Al Dhakhira, which was inaugurated in the presence of LuLu Group chairman Yusufali M A and several dignitaries and VIPs.“This is the next biggest hydrocarbon expansion happening in Al Khor and we are expecting a huge increase in the population here, so we need to be prepared to serve all communities. We are very excited about this upcoming development and we are quite happy with the response from the community here,” he explained.Dr Althaf said, “The plans to increase LNG production is one of the country’s largest investments in hydrocarbons, so we are expecting that there will be a lot of projects happening in Qatar next year, so we wanted to establish our footprint in this area, which has witnessed an increase in the number of workers’ accommodations. We want to make sure that we are able to take care of their personal requirements.“We are looking at all industrial complexes that are expanding across the country. We want to serve all these communities so that people will not have to travel too far for their daily needs. This is part of LuLu’s mission to bring all things to the local community. Instead of people coming to us, we are coming to them. And this brings to reality the vision of our chairman.”Dr Althaf also noted that business was “very good” during the World Cup, adding that LuLu exceeded its business targets during the tournament. He said LuLu was on point with its targets, ensuring that there was no shortage of food supplies and other commodities, and no price increases during the World Cup.

Capping 2022 with the opening of its 22nd store in Qatar Saturday in Al Dhakhira, Al Khor, LuLu Group is expected to open six new hypermarkets in the country next year, the group’s chairman, Yusufali M A, told 'Gulf Times'. Speaking on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of LuLu’s latest hypermarket and department store, Yusufali said the event culminates the group’s contribution to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which ends Sunday alongside the celebration of Qatar National Day.“LuLu has been a part of this successful event because we have opened more hypermarkets that cater to the needs of the people of Qatar. We successfully managed to meet the demands of both fans and local customers, which is why I would like to thank His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, and the Qatari government for LuLu’s successful operations and for supporting the group’s expansion plans in Qatar, especially during the World Cup,” he emphasised.Yusufali also extended his congratulations and thanked His Highness the Amir, the royal family, and the citizens and residents of Qatar for hosting a very successful FIFA World Cup in the country. He also lauded LuLu’s team comprising some 220 personnel who dedicated their work to serve not only the local customers but also the visitors and fans of the World Cup, stressing that LuLu was able to maintain its commitment to serve all customers without any shortages in food products during the entire duration of the tournament. “There was also no price increase while we served our customers during the World Cup. This was what we promised and we have kept this promise until the conclusion of this global tournament,” he stressed.Yusufali also praised the government for building many world-class infrastructures, such as the World Cup stadiums to meet the requirements of FIFA and the teams of different countries participating in the tournament. “Even FIFA officials have announced that the tournament held in Qatar was ‘the best World Cup ever’ held in its history,” he noted.

LuLu Group fulfilled its commitment to open 22 branches by the end of 2022 with the opening of a new hypermarket and department store in Al Dhakhira, Al Khor, Saturday. LuLu Group chairman Yusufali M A opened the new store in time for the celebration of Qatar National Day and the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Lusail Stadium, reflecting the group’s commitment to the “buoyant vision of the progress of the Qatari leadership”.The event was highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Ali al-Sada in the presence of Yusufali, group directors Dr Mohamed Althaf and Salim M A, as well as senior management officials. Other dignitaries and VIPs joining the celebrations included Abdulla al-Muhannadi and Khalifa al-Muhannadi. The two-level hypermarket has all the popular LuLu retail features packed into 7,800sqm area. It includes an international variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, choice cuts of meats and seafood, and the popular ‘LuLu Connect’ digital showcase in-store.It also includes popular LuLu shopping stations, such as LuLu Fashion, luggage, stationery, sports and fitness, footwear, toys, and home furnishing, among many others. The hypermarket has 500 dedicated parking spaces and 18 checkout counters, as well as an ATM facility and a telecoms store for customers’ convenience.It will also feature a money exchange facility, travel agency, pharmacy, perfume store, watch shop, gift wrapping section and restaurants, among others. On the sidelines of the event, Yusufali extended his congratulations to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari government, and the people of Qatar “for the big success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup”.Yusufali emphasised that LuLu Group contributed to the success of the World Cup by dedicating a team of 220 employees to serve fans from different countries “in a better way and providing quality foods according to their tastes.” “By the grace of God, we succeeded in our plan as there was not any shortage of food products or a price increase in Qatar during the event. This is what we promised ahead of the World Cup,” Yusufali noted, adding that the new hypermarket in Al Dhakhira is part of LuLu Group’s expansion plan to reach out to communities across the country.Dr Althaf said LuLu’s goal is to serve the maximum number of people in Qatar by opening new stores in their respective localities, saving their travel time.On LuLu’s business during the World Cup, Dr Althaf said: “We received an overwhelming response from customers, especially from the fans. Our prime focus was to serve the fans who came from all over the world by providing quality foods in large quantities. We succeeded in our plan as there was no shortage of food and no price hike was recorded all throughout the event.”

The opportunity for small companies and startups to do business, secure deals, and participate in activities related to Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will create a positive impact on their operations, according to an industry expert.“By indicating in your portfolio that your company has participated in the World Cup can open a host of other business opportunities because investors will understand that your company is trustworthy and has the ability to engage in major events and activities,” Hefzi Malhis, partnerships manager at Innovation Café, told Gulf Times.“Aside from investors, the opportunity to participate in the World Cup can also help startups attract other entities or business partners because an event such as this international tournament will provide the company a good track record, as well,” Malhis explained.He noted that doing business during the World Cup will also open opportunities to access a wider market and expand both regionally and globally, considering that millions of tourists and fans are attending the tournament.“And it’s not only the millions of fans, but there are also many different professional entities that are present in Qatar for ‘the biggest sports event in the world’, so this provides local startups opportunities to widen their network by engaging with international companies,” he stressed.Malhis also lauded the efforts of Qatar in diversifying its economy away from oil and gas to develop other industries in the country’s non-hydrocarbon sectors. He said Qatar has been investing heavily in developing its IT and ICT infrastructure and other technologies, which has given added value to the different stakeholders and major players in the country.He said not only are the big companies benefiting from Qatar’s world-class IT and ICT infrastructure, but also entrepreneurs, owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and different startups across the country.Malhis said the support provided by the Qatari government to local entrepreneurs, was crucial in preparing and establishing their businesses and companies prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.“Qatar is aware that technology is the future. The fact that the government supported the country’s startups earlier made a very big difference. Many local entrepreneurs were able to open up their businesses even before the World Cup, which is a great advantage because the government was there to help and support them and make sure that these companies are able to fully operate, especially during the tournament itself,” he stressed.Malhis emphasised that while Qatar has been very supportive of the different players in its startup ecosystem and the country’s entrepreneurial businesses, he said there is still “a lot of improvement” in terms of access to funding.“Access to funding is the biggest challenge in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and for entrepreneurs, including those from Qatar,” Malhis said, adding that another challenge for entrepreneurs is having the opportunity to secure and close deals.“Not only do you need to attract local talent but also talent from outside the country. Entrepreneurs also need access to markets. If you want to attract talent, particularly from unique technology startups that want to expand their footprint abroad, you have to open opportunities to do business in Qatar,” Malhis explained.

Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani has underscored the role played by Qatari businesswomen in the country’s economic development, saying their investments are significant to the growth of the economy.“Over the recent years, businesswomen’s economic activity has intensified and expanded in many economic sectors,” Sheikh Khalifa said in the latest edition of Al Moltaqa, the chamber’s monthly economic magazine.“Qatari women have benefited from the wise leadership’s support and directives and from the government’s supportive policies, which focus on empowering women and activating their economic participation,” Sheikh Khalifa stressed.According to Sheikh Khalifa, the number of Qatari women who partially or fully own companies registered with Qatar Chamber stood around 7,000. An additional 4,900 women manage their companies and act as authorised signatories, while around 4,700 women are just authorised signatories.He stressed that the growth in the number of Qatari women in the business sector was accelerated by legislation that supports women to establish companies without discrimination, in addition to the facilities provided by the country’s investment environment and policies on ease of doing business.Earlier, Sheikh Khalifa emphasised that the chamber will continue to represent and strengthen the private sector’s role in Qatar’s economic development.It will also address all challenges and obstacles to find the appropriate solutions, as well as promote the national economy and strengthen co-operation with all institutions and chambers worldwide, he stressed.Sheikh Khalifa said: “Qatar Chamber will also contribute to participating in the efforts to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting economic diversification and attracting investments to the state.”He stressed that the chamber is keen to enhance communication with all ministries and authorities concerned in order to discuss all challenges and difficulties and to find appropriate solutions. The chamber will also work to provide appropriate recommendations and give its opinion on private sector issues, Sheikh Khalifa added.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF), which recently launched the first FIFA Store inside the Hamad International Airport (HIA), has been playing a key part in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, an official has said.QDF vice-president Thabet Musleh said, “This has been an extraordinary period for our beloved home Qatar, and we are proud to have played a significant role in this year's FIFA tournament.”On Monday, QDF officially launched the first FIFA Store inside HIA – named by Skytrax as the 'World’s Best Airport' – and showcases an impressive collection of FIFA Official World Cup merchandise, souvenirs, collectibles and team jerseys.The official opening of the FIFA Store was officiated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker, HIA Chief Operating Officer Badr al-Meer, and Musleh.The FIFA Store, which spans over 185sq m and operates 24/7, features a collection of FIFA merchandise, including football jerseys, sports attires, accessories, the Official FIFA World Cup Al Rihla Ball, souvenirs and collectibles.In addition, fans are offered a premium selection of official team jerseys and accessories to show support for their favourite teams. Unique items sold at the FIFA Store include the Al Hilm Pro Final Official Match Ball and Retro FIFA collection items. The stores also feature trophy World Cup replicas and FIFA 2022 branded attire.Musleh said, “Launching the first FIFA Store worldwide at our brand new expansion in Hamad International Airport is a great honour. As the tournament is coming to an end, we look forward to welcoming thousands of fans travelling through HIA to explore the FIFA Store and shop for memorable souvenirs to mark an unforgettable experience.”QDF, the Official Retail Partner for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is also operating all the official FIFA stores located in different locations throughout the iconic eight stadiums of Qatar and the mega store at the FIFA Fan Festival.

Qatar’s rapid progress in cybersecurity has been an essential element in ensuring that financial transactions, especially during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, are safe and protected, according to an industry expert.“The ministerial vision of the State of Qatar had long foreseen the necessity of cybersecurity and the role it plays,” Dr Salah A Rustum, the chairman and president of cybersecurity solutions provider CIELTECH, told Gulf Times Tuesday.Dr Rustum explained that cybersecurity plays a major role in assuring the protection of private data, B2B businesses, and the encryption process, which protected all Internet communication and activities, including the Know Your Customer (KYC) of users.Given the volume of financial services and transactions that require digital technology during the World Cup, Dr Rustum lauded the State of Qatar’s efforts in stepping up its digitalisation strategy.“It would have been practically impossible to cope with 4mn visitors and their respective payments and or collection of cash – the least to say! Not to mention opening the doors to money laundering without being able to interfere. Can you imagine the different reporters being efficient if it were not for the State of Qatar to digitise the operating systems?” Dr Rustum emphasised.He also underscored how tech startups and fintech companies in Qatar, and even financial technology, had catered to the needs of tourists and visitors to Qatar during the World Cup.Dr Rustum said: “What is crucial in my opinion are the online applications in general that facilitated the question and answer to the ordinary visitor and local layman, coupled with the important role played by those companies and databases that made it possible and easy for the visitor to reach the sought data. This will not change and people will go forward with it.”On the advantages Qatar had achieved in its digitalisation strategy and its impact on the World Cup, he said: “I think that it is more digitising than digitalisation in as much as the systems applied were made available to facilitate the running needs of visitors and were not issued by respective governmental decrees.”“In fact, the State of Qatar is fully aware of digitalising processes and had a planned foreseen vision of the propelled activities,” Dr Rustum also noted.According to Dr Rustum, the country’s banks and its related services, including the security sector, Qatar Red Crescent Society, hospitals, as well as the municipality of the City of Doha have been the prime beneficiaries of the services provided to Qatar’s tech startups and fintechs followed by house renting, hotels, coffee houses, travel agents, and taxis, among others.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has launched the ‘Malaysian Products to the World’ campaign in Doha as part of the ongoing efforts to promote Malaysian products globally.The campaign, which was organised via MATRADE’s overseas offices in Doha and Duba, aims to increase market awareness about Malaysian products, particularly fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and to strengthen Malaysia’s brand presence in the local FMCG segment.This strategy provides cost-effective and sustainable solutions for Malaysian exporters to seize new business opportunities and generate higher export sales contributed by new sales leads resulting from extensive promotion activities, according to MATRADE trade commissioner Megat Iskandar Ahmad.The campaign was launched in collaboration with Ansar Group and supported by the embassy of Malaysia in Qatar. It is being conducted both online and in-store at Ansar Gallery Barwa Branch. The in-store promotion will run until December 17, while the online promo will continue until December 30, 2022.The promotion features food and beverages, household items, and personal care products from Malaysian brands like Julies, Kawan, Cocon, and Alicafe. Other Malaysian products, such as furniture will also be showcased during the campaign.Ahmad said: “The ‘Malaysian Products to the World’ promotion will take shoppers on a journey of discovering Malaysia through its products. The event provides customers with an array of exciting offers on a wide range of Malaysian products and has managed to attract strong interest from Qatari consumers. Combined with the online promotion, we believe more sales can be generated and will create more opportunities for other Malaysian products to enter the Qatari market.”Qatar is Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner in the GCC. The total trade value of both countries stood at $990.4mn as of October 2022 from $485.1mn in 2021. “Moving forward, MATRADE will continue to embark on various promotional activities, enriching Malaysian companies’ exports in the global market,” Ahmad added.The Malay heritage varies from north to south in terms of taste, food preparation, and names of cuisine. Essentially, Malay heritage food is influenced by a myriad of cultures, such as Arab, Indian, Chinese, Siamese, Javanese, and Minangkabau, among others.Different regions in Malaysia are known for their unique or signature dishes, such as beef rendang, laksa, nasilemak, and tapai. Malay food is identical in terms of its spiciness, which can be seen from the preparation, methods of cooking, and availability and use of prominent ingredients, such as local aromatic herbs and spices.

Two industry leaders from the Indian expatriate community have shared their experiences as longstanding residents of Qatar during a seminar organised by the Ministry of Culture at the Darb Al Saai main stage on Saturday.Titled ‘Experiences of Long-Term Expatriates in Qatar’, the event was moderated by Dr Abdullah Faraj and featured a panel discussion with Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, and C V Rappai, director & CEO of Jumbo Electronics Qatar.During the event, Dr Althaf lauded His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, saying that his wise leadership guided Qatar in its preparation to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and for the highly-successful organisation of the tournament.“By far, this is the most well-organised, safest, and family-friendly World Cup that I have personally seen. The leadership of Qatar, including residents and citizens of this country, can be very proud of this achievement,” he stressed.Dr Althaf said: “We have shown the world what we could give back and achieve through unity, hard work, and resilience, regardless of the silly propaganda hurled at Qatar. Today, every visitor to Qatar will testify how the people living in this country had opened their homes, their minds, and hearts to the millions of World Cup fans who came here.“All good things happened in my life when I came to Qatar 22 years ago. This is where I got married and raised my children. I have been so fortunate to witness the progress that Qatar has made over the years.”Dr Althaf added: “When I arrived in Qatar, the country was preparing for a lot of transformations. But even then, I could feel a tremendous energy, positive attitude, and enthusiasm of the people. Qatar is very unique in the sense that it extended its generosity to all the people living in the country.“We witnessed this while Qatar was preparing to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. I consider myself very fortunate to be living in this country, which is arguably the largest sovereign wealth fund, and the safest country worldwide, and while it is a small country, Qatar was more than able to successfully host the largest sporting event in the world.For his part, Rappai said he arrived in Qatar in 1980 and considers himself “one of the luckiest persons from India” to be living “in this blessed land” for the past 42 years.“Words cannot describe how I have witnessed the growth of this county. Qatar continues to progress daily in infrastructure and in different sectors, such as education, health, and sports, among many other landmark achievements.“The Qatari government and its wise leadership were able to successfully convert different challenges into opportunities, which we have witnessed in the past three decades,” Rappai pointed out.

By staging a safe and well-organised tournament, Qatar has successfully dispelled “silly” FIFA World Cup-related propaganda, which had only exposed “racial and Islamophobic undertones,” according to Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International.Speaking at the ‘Experiences of Long-Term Expatriates in Qatar’ seminar, which was organised by the Ministry of Culture at the Darb Al Saai main stage, Dr Althaf said there are some critics who cannot accept that a Gulf state, such as Qatar, was selected to host a major global sporting event like the World Cup.“This upset a lot of people who thought that this is their right to host anything in the world. But despite the propaganda, Qatar gave a rightful response in a very graceful manner by continuing with its many reforms and hard work,” he explained.Dr Althaf said despite the concerns about Qatar’s preparations to host the FIFA World Cup, the government started early on to address different issues, such as workers’ rights, among many other reforms.“These efforts and reforms were repeatedly recognised by the International Labour Organisation, and the ILO had always congratulated Qatar for improving the living and working conditions of labourers here. Today, Qatar can rightfully claim that it is one of the leading countries in terms of labour reforms.“These World Cup-related propaganda only exposed racial and Islamophobic undertones and intolerance towards a country coming forward to host this event,” Dr Althaf emphasised.He also stressed that throughout the tournament, Qatar did not witness “any drunken brawling across the country or hooliganism,” making it safe for fans to even bring their children to the stadiums to watch and enjoy the games.“Qatar has some of the highest specified stadiums today in terms of mobility and public transport, thus setting a very high standard for the next World Cups to be staged in different host countries.“The World Cup also witnessed the intermingling of different nationalities during the games or even outside the stadiums and in the fan zones, especially among Indians. This shows the affection of Indians towards Qatar and the generosity of the Qatari people to those who made this country their second home,” he said.Dr Althaf also lauded His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s speech in Davos where he declared that while Qatar welcomes everybody, it is also expected that visitors should respect the country’s values and culture.“We have succeeded in making World Cup fans and visitors feel welcome and that they are all being serviced properly. When it comes to food, I can assure you that LuLu has considered all types of dietary habits and preferences, as well as the food requirements of fans and visitors during their stay in the country.“We have fulfilled their expectations and even more. Similarly, on infrastructure and entertainment, Qatar has shown that we could do all this without compromising the core values of our culture,” Althaf said, adding that this paved the way for fans and tourists to experience the Arab and Qatari culture.Dr Althaf said: “Qatar has showcased inclusivity and tolerance for people of all races, nationality, faith and religious beliefs, and cultures. Everyone is welcome in Qatar as long as they extend the same respect given to them by this beautiful country.“Qatar is not only economically successful but it also managed to build solid institutions for culture, sports, welfare, and human rights. Qatar has extended generosity not only with the people here, but also for millions of people abroad, such as out-of-school youth, children in conflict zones, and disaster-hit areas.”Dr Althaf added: “We also witnessed Qatar’s intervention at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the transportation of vaccines and other essential materials, as well as the country’s leadership during the evacuation of people during the Afghanistan crisis.”

US companies involved in World Cup-related projects will continue doing business in Qatar for the long term, an official of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) has said.AmCham Qatar executive director Brooke Holland underscored the successful staging of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, saying the tournament has highlighted the celebration of 50 years of US-Qatar diplomatic relations, making 2022 “an iconic year” for both nations’ business ties.“It’s important to recognise that many of the US businesses that played a role in the World Cup are here in Qatar for the long term. Most of those companies will continue to do business here.“At AmCham Qatar, we have several initiatives up our sleeves to explore further opportunities for businesses that are unique to Qatar, including engaging further with our American university members at Education City,” Holland told Gulf Times, adding that more announcements are expected to be made in Q1 2023.She said AmCham Qatar is focused on American companies based in Qatar. As an advocate and representative of the American private sector, Holland said the chamber’s priority is its members in Qatar.“We work closely with the US Chamber of Commerce, the embassy, and other business organisations who support our members stateside. We support them and those US ventures for our members where we can, but our plan is to continue the great work we’re doing here and support our members and American companies on the ground. Our plan is to build on our 2022 foundation and continue to engage here locally,” Holland emphasised.She describes AmCham’s activities in 2022 as “engaging,” adding that this year witnessed many engagements with its members on new levels “and in ways we haven't connected with them before.”“Coming out of Covid-19 and the blockade, our members were hungry for thoughtful engagement physically in Qatar. Between hosting our partnering organisation, the US Chamber of Commerce out of Washington, DC, attending the AmCham Mena executive council conference, routine industry committee, and member initiative meetings, as well as fun events like ‘Headshots and Happy Hour’, we've worked very hard to deliver a mix of business and social activities to our members,” she explained.Holland said 2022 also witnessed the chamber’s significant growth as an organisation, doubled its membership, re-elected a new board of governors, elected a new chairman for the first time in its history, implemented member-driven committees, and hosted ministry roundtables to open further dialogue between AmCham’s Qatari business counterparts on the role of the US private sector as a stakeholder in the Qatar National Vision 2030.“We've strengthened ties with our partners in the GCC with the signing of the GCC AmChams MoU, and we’re engaging more deeply with our colleagues within AmCham Mena. We’re forging relationships with our local partners like Qatar Financial Centre and our relationship with the US Chamber of Commerce in DC is thriving,” Holland added.

Homegrown tech startups and fintech companies have been playing a significant role in catering to the needs of tourists and visitors of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, according to an industry expert.Hefzi Malhis, partnerships manager at Innovation Café, told Gulf Times that some of the local fintechs have been very successful in securing deals with payment gateways, allowing smooth digital financial transactions for visiting foreigners.“These fintech companies, among many others that are based in Qatar, have enabled seamless and safe transactions during this global event, which added to the success of the country in hosting an international sports tournament, such as the World Cup,” Malhis emphasised.Other homegrown tech companies were also significant players in helping visitors book their hotels in Qatar by giving them access to special payment links, according to Malhis, citing cases wherein some websites are unable to provide extensive information about hotel vacancies here during the World Cup.“By providing important services and vital information to visiting fans and tourists, Qatar’s tech startups and fintechs, among others, are playing a very significant part in promoting the country, not only as a sports destination but also a leading tourism and entertainment hub in the region,” Malhis pointed out.According to Malhis, one of the advantages of utilising local technology companies over international payment gateways is their expertise, familiarity, and knowledge of the local market, as well as better rates.“International event organisers also gain a lot of advantages from working with local fintechs and tech startups because these companies are on the ground – they know the terrain – and, most importantly, they are trustworthy,” he explained.Malhis noted that many Qatari entrepreneurs in the food and beverage (F&B) sector wanted to open their businesses before the World Cup.He said fintechs and other startups also played an important function by offering F&B companies the option to use different innovations and technologies to maximise the benefits of operating a business during the tournament, such as delivering food and other services to fan zones and other World Cup-related areas.Malhis also lauded the assistance provided by the Qatari government to local entrepreneurs, saying strong and early public sector support was crucial in preparing and establishing these businesses prior to the tournament.“Many local entrepreneurs were able to open up their businesses even before the World Cup, which is a great advantage because the government was there to help and support them and make sure that these companies are able to fully operate, especially during the tournament itself,” he added.

In the wake of the 5th Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue held recently in Qatar, the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) will continue to enhance its role in facilitating trade and investments between US companies and their Qatari counterparts, an official has said.“AmCham Qatar has always been a strategic dialogue partner and given the mission of our organisation we’re even more excited that it’s being held right here in our backyard,” AmCham Qatar executive director Brooke Holland told Gulf Times Wednesday.She said: “As the primary local organisation for the American private sector and given our close relationship with our US embassy in Doha, our role is to continue to be that private sector voice and catalyst for US companies here...all of our leadership is excited about the ongoing dialogue.”Asked how the strategic dialogue will help AmCham Qatar facilitate business, trade, and commerce between Qatar and the US, Holland said: “The strategic dialogue is one of the few times, if not the only time, where you get everyone together at the table. It’s important to have this dialogue with government and business organisations, as well as stakeholders, among others, to really talk about the nuts and bolts of what’s happening in Qatar and abroad.“At the end of the day, we all share a lot of common goals. The strategic dialogue brings us out of our silos. I think it’s also clear that Qatar National Vision 2030 will be a key discussion point, of which, business, trade, and commerce are crucial to some of that success.”Holland also said US ambassador Timmy T Davis has AmCham Qatar’s support in promoting the US embassy’s sub-national diplomacy campaign, which aims to open the Qatari market to American small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).“As the primary American private sector organisation here in Qatar, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a longstanding and great relationship with our US embassy in Doha. This relationship has only strengthened with the appointment of our incredible new ambassador, Timmy Davis.“The senior commercial officer even holds an honorary board seat within AmCham Qatar, which helps ensure our mutual goals of trade, commerce, and investment are achieved and maximised to the private sector in Qatar,” Holland explained.She said: “We will continue to work with the US embassy to support the ‘2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit Delegation’, and we are exploring new ways the Commerical Law Department and other embassy/state department programmes can benefit our member initiatives here.“This year has shown that visiting delegations are back in full swing and we will continue to work with the embassy on ensuring these delegations leave with a full understanding and resources into what it means to do business in Qatar.”Holland added: “In 2023, we plan to take this a step further by partnering on the Clean Tech Trade mission stop-off in Doha, hosting our inaugural Sustainability Summit in March 2023.“Working with the embassy here in Doha has and will continue to be at the centre of our strategic dialogue, and we are proud of the work we do collectively here on the ground together to help American companies.”