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Not only is LuLu cementing its reputation as an environment-conscious company that strongly advocates sustainable development, but it is also Qatar’s partner in promoting sports, as well as an active and healthy lifestyle, a top official has said. Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International, was referring to the Abu Sidra Mall, which houses LuLu’s “biggest and most innovative hypermarket in Qatar.” The hypermarket, LuLu’s 15th store in Qatar, opened to the public in September. “This mall is complete, so we plan to fully open it by January 2022. This shopping mall is focusing on health, wellness, and fitness, as well as sustainability. It is a sports and wellness-themed establishment, hence people will find a wide variety of products and services that promote a healthy lifestyle,” he noted. According to Althaf, the Abu Sidra Mall will not only feature different stores connected to fitness and wellness, but it will also boast of wellness clinics, yoga studio, and gyms for both ladies and gents. “But aside from these, the mall will also offer amenities for entertainment sections and family fashion brands,” noted Althaf. He said, “We are not aggressively looking for high-profile brands but rather brands that we believe will fit in the theme of our shopping mall. The stores will offer a lot of ‘healthy brands’ and sports apparel. “A large area is dedicated for sports and entertainment, where a lot of activities could be held, especially for the kids. Around the shopping mall, we have a jogging track that caters to the health-conscious and for those looking for an area to exercise and get fit,” explained Althaf, who noted that “the majority of the spaces in the mall have already been leased out.” Harun Kadri, Leasing & Mall manager, said the Abu Sidra Mall is almost 75% leased, offering “very premium brands.” With the presence of LuLu’s hypermarket spanning 24,000sqm, he said customer footfall may reach as high as almost “10,000 visitors on weekends,” and around “8,000 people daily” on weekdays. In an earlier statement, LuLu Group chairman and managing director Yusuffali M A stressed that the hypermarket reaffirms the group’s confidence “in the vision and energy of Qatar’s leadership and part of a global expansion plan that has already put the group in the Deloitte Top 150 list of Global Retailers for 2021.” In a previous interview with Gulf Times, Althaf stressed that LuLu Group is seeking to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 as part of its sustainable development initiatives. As a retail outlet pioneering in sustainable development in Qatar, Althaf said all new LuLu outlets in the country are based on the principle of sustainability. “Our strategy is very clear that at least by 2030 all our carbon footprint should be reduced by 50%, and by 2050, we definitely want to become net-zero and to become carbon neutral,” he emphasised. Ends    

Vodafone Qatar has launched its ‘Together We Can’ campaign, which reflects the company’s commitment to Qatar in overcoming all the challenges the world and the country have faced in the last few years. It is also geared at supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030. In this exclusive one-on-one interview with Gulf Times, chief operations officer Diego Camberos discusses Vodafone Qatar’s shift from a telco to ‘techco’, as well as the three pillars upon which the campaign is founded. Camberos also discusses a first in Qatar – Vodafone’s breakthrough in the millimetre wave (mmWave) 5G trial and what this means to the millions of fans arriving in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. What is Vodafone Qatar’s ‘Together We Can’ campaign? Camberos: “‘Together We Can’ is a summary of what we’ve been focused on over the last three years. A lot has changed over the years, with the pandemic adding complexity to that change so the world adapted. And that’s exactly what we have done: we have adapted. “We have combined technology and the human spirit; this is a winning combination in order to turn challenges into opportunities. This is Vodafone’s guiding principle. ‘Together We Can’ represents a big change for us – moving from being just a telecommunications company to using technology for a purpose.” Please elaborate further on the campaign’s three pillars: innovations, sports, and sustainability “We launched ‘Together We Can’ on November 1, 2021, where we highlight how technology turns challenges into achievement across sports, innovation, and technology. In sports, we are committed to promoting a healthier society, as well as enhancing the sports industry by offering innovative solutions to help organisers and participants better connect and have exceptional experiences. We’ve been keen to be more involved in various sports, especially those with a strong following here in Qatar. For instance, we’ve been sponsoring a host of padel tournaments in Qatar, which are popular, promoting a healthy lifestyle in our communities. We’re also involved with many other sports such as golf, volleyball, and horse riding, where we look to continue our support of the health and well-being of Qatar’s population moving into 2022. “In terms of innovation, we continuously look for opportunities for technology to fuel better outcomes. For example, we just trialled our new millimetre wave (mmWave) technology – this is the evolution of 5G. That’s a great example of how we’re innovating and how we’re evolving; using our investment in 5G to boost network capacity and speeds with the aim of providing new functionality for businesses and consumers. Other examples of our recent innovation include our range of solutions and support services for Qatar’s SMEs, through our state-of-the-art Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that revolutionise the way they do business. “On sustainability, we believe in the importance of preserving the planet for future generations. Our green initiatives and partnerships provide the technologies to enable the development of innovative solutions that will reshape the future. We have a range of IoT products, such as Fleet Management and Asset Tracking, as well as those for the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, among others. We worked with Kahramaa for a big project in which we are using our narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) network to digitise their information systems. We have also powered a range of green solutions, including the Msheireb Smart City project via our high-speed 5G coverage. Our goal is to be at the forefront of providing sustainable innovative solutions to industries around the country.” Please explain Vodafone Qatar’s transitional journey from a telco to ‘techco.’ “We call it ‘techco’ - this essentially encompasses all digital technologies. For instance, before it was all about minutes and voice calls. But now it is about data - we are tapping into the new normal and data has become so important to people. “The amount of data that people are using now is five times more than it was five years ago, so we have to adapt to this and find new ways to serve the customer’s needs. We don’t think like a telecommunications company anymore but rather, we think like a digital company. “For us, we’re testing new technologies all the time and combining them with the human spirit, all to fuel a world that adapts and achieves. We’re also very focused on simplification; the simpler the better so that in three clicks you can get a simple solution to a problem, for example.” Will this journey lead to adding more to Vodafone Qatar’s portfolio of solutions and services? “Yes. That never stops. We are a very customer-centric organisation, so new products and services will always come, especially in digital. Our app is evolving every day and we want everything to be simple and related to our app. We want to digitalise as much as we can to bring more value to our customers, so we are adding more products and services based on our customers’ needs, such as more mobile plans, IoT, fibre rollout, and 5G services.” What is the current status of Vodafone Qatar’s 5G rollout in Qatar, and what is the value of the company’s investments to extend its 5G footprint in the country? “In the last three years, we have poured more than QR1.5bn worth of investment into Vodafone Qatar’s advanced network. During that time, the number of Vodafone outdoor and indoor mobile sites in Qatar has increased by over 35%. For competitive reasons, we don't disclose details of our 5G itself exactly. However, it is evident that our network is growing every day. In our last campaign, we clearly saw see a huge difference in our network compared to two years ago. “And in the last three years, our network grew by around 47% due to our investments not only in 5G but also in our fibre rollout, which gives our customers access to fixed lines across the country. “This year, Vodafone Qatar has continued to lead the development of 5G - the next generation of mobile connectivity which brings faster speeds, increased network capacity and lower latency levels. 70% of Qatar’s population can now access Vodafone’s 5G network. As well as mobile technology, Vodafone Qatar’s GigaHome 5G has allowed customers to be among the first in the world to connect their homes with 5G.” Following the progress in your 5G rollout, what benefits would this offer to your customers and to FIFA World Cup fans? “Today, we are providing world-class services on 5G and across our network. If you look into the CRA reports and how we rank on Internet penetration, connectivity, and speed, we're up there. That shows that as a network, Vodafone is world-class. “Vodafone’s GigaNet network is now bigger, faster and stronger than ever before, and it will facilitate a fantastic experience for football fans in Qatar that are enjoying the game either at home or in stadiums. We haven't stopped our rollout yet, so between now and the World Cup next year, we will continue to keep improving our network. “We have recently launched and enhanced our new Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Lusail. The centre is a key part of our operational excellence strategy and contributions to the Qatar National Vision 2030 by enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure to drive digital transformation. Vodafone’s NOC also uses emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, as well as other best industry practices and tools to ensure that the Vodafone GigaNet network is available to customers at all times” Only recently, Vodafone has completed Qatar’s first successful trial on the millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum. How will Vodafone Qatar’s business and consumer segments benefit from mmWave technology? “Vodafone is proud to be the first to showcase the millimetre wave experience in Qatar. It’s the evolution of 5G and this demonstrates what this technology can enable. With mmWave technology, you can provide high bandwidth in very crowded places. This makes it easy when using 360? cameras in situations where you have a massive audience, such as the World Cup. “Vodafone Qatar has been trialling the use of mmWave technology to boost network capacity and speeds, with the aim of unlocking new functionality for both consumers and businesses. Users will benefit from faster upload and download speeds, and the technology will also open the door for new experiences. “For businesses, 5G mmWave will transform performance and user experience beyond what is currently possible with existing network capabilities, including across mobile broadband, fixed wireless and industrial applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR).” What is your projected growth for total mobile customers in Qatar by the 2022 FIFA World Cup and beyond? “We cannot disclose projections, however, our ambition is to continue growing alongside our customers. As we expect the arrival of fans for the World Cup, our strategy is to continue growth across all of our segments. We want every person in Qatar to be able to enjoy the world-class services that we offer.” What is your strategy or plans in the pipeline to maintain continued expansion in the company’s mobile telecom services, as well as postpaid revenue and fixed broadband services? “We will continue delivering our strategy and have many developments in the pipeline across– a wide variety of services, such as prepaid and postpaid, fixed services to TV, IoT and now millimetre wave, and our continued 5G rollout. Of course, we are also focused on the corporate segment. “As a matter of fact, we are proud now to say that we have been awarded by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) for the broadcast of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That’s a big responsibility for us, especially in showcasing how world-class our services and infrastructure are.” What are the steps Vodafone Qatar is taking to continue reporting robust financials to its shareholders? “We are very focused on profitable growth. This is incredibly important to us and we have continued to deliver that over the past few years, to the market and to our shareholders. We have many plans in the pipeline but the essence of our strategy will be the same, which is to deliver robust results.”

Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s successful state visit here earlier this month, more business delegations from France are expected to arrive in Qatar in 2022, ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre has said. These visits from France’s leading business organisations and major companies are part of the Western European nation’s objectives in enhancing and developing Qatar-France bilateral relations in a wide range of sectors. During Macron’s visit here, the French president was accompanied by some 30 CEOs as part of France’s delegation in the trip, said Faivre. He said in September, a delegation of French businesspersons also visited the country and held meetings with authorities in the public and private sectors. The delegation included Total chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne, Movement of the Enterprises of France’s (Medef) Qatari-French Committee chairman Guillaume Pepy, representatives from the French Qardan Association, and a number of French company CEOs. “Qatar has a very clear strategy, which is a very impressive one in many sectors. And it is clear that we will be with Qatar in its future development; the confidence between both countries is good in this area. I have no doubt that these delegations will come and will continue to come here,” Faivre told Gulf Times in a recent meeting with the media at his Doha residence. Data provided by the French embassy in Doha reported that Qatar-France bilateral trade stood at €1.9bn in 2020. “This reflects the strength of the ties that unite us also appears in the economic field,” noted Faivre, who also said a large number of French and Qatari companies have established long-term partnerships. “To date, 120 French companies and 90 franchises are established in Qatar (mainly large groups, but SMEs presence is increasing as well), whether in the oil and gas industry, in defence and aeronautics, in infrastructure and construction, in transport, in the environment, in finance, in the digital sector, in the hospitality industry or in distribution. “Our two countries are resolutely looking to the future and wish to extend their cooperation to new areas, such as innovation, energy transition, and sustainable development. President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision, in particular on its energy transition strategy,” Faivre told reporters earlier. Aside from economic ties between Qatar and France, Faivre stressed that among his top priorities is to keep both countries’ political links and confidence “at the highest level as possible,” citing “a very dense agenda” is in the pipeline, especially on regional issues. “I think the regional issues are very important for France and Qatar, which are two countries that could play a positive role in the region. We are countries that want to resolve the issues; France and Qatar are not in favour of confrontation but are looking for ways how to resolve crises. On the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he said: “We have a history of co-operating with Qatar in sport events like the 2006 Asian Games, which was held successfully in the country with the support of France. Since then, we had the confidence in co-operating in these kinds of events and I’m sure such will be the case with the World Cup,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit here has reaffirmed the strength of Qatar and France’s relations in all fields, ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre said. Addressing the media on Wednesday, he stressed that among the key results of Macron’s visit is the “unique and privileged dialogue between the two heads of state”. “The two heads of states discussed with friendship, affection, and frankness all issues of common interest in a privileged one-to-one exchange,” Faivre said. “His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani offered a very warm welcome to the president and his delegation.” “Qatar is a strategic partner of France,” the ambassador pointed out. “The president reaffirmed the historical depth of our relations, the strength of our friendship, and of our partnership.” Faivre said that His Highness the Amir and Macron will lead the third meeting of the bilateral strategic dialogue next year, “taking the strategic partnership a step further”. He added that they also agreed to relaunch two-way visits at the ministerial level. In the educational and cultural fields, Faivre said that 2020 was marked by the celebration of the Qatar-France Year of Culture. Major French educational institutions, such as HEC Paris in Qatar, are leading actors in this field. “Designer Christian Dior’s first exhibition in the region was unveiled last month at the M7 Museum in Msheireb,” Faivre said. “To deepen our co-operation in the educational and cultural fields, President Macron and His Highness the Amir have decided to launch new structuring projects,” he added. In the economic field, Faivre said that some 30 chief executives toured key investment destinations in Qatar. A large number of French and Qatari companies have established long-term partnerships. “In 2020, our bilateral trade stood at €1.9bn. To date, 120 French companies and 90 franchises are established in Qatar (mainly large groups, but SME – small and medium enterprises – presence is increasing, as well), whether in the oil and gas industry, in defence and aeronautics, in infrastructure and construction, in transport, in the environment, in finance, in the digital sector, in the hospitality industry or in distribution,” the ambassador said. “Our two countries are resolutely looking to the future and wish to extend their co-operation to new areas like innovation, energy transition, and sustainable development,” Faivre added. “President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision, particularly its energy transition strategy.” According to envoy, two agreements were signed during Macron’s visit: a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between French Minister of Economy, Finance and Recovery Bruno Lemaire and HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, and a letter of intent on cultural co-operation between Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot and HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani. Faivre stressed that France will also stand by Qatar to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a success: “We will be glad to contribute to the organisation of the World Cup in 2022, particularly in the field of security.” On the subject of Afghanistan, he said that France “sincerely extends its gratitude” to Qatari authorities for their “decisive help” in planning and carrying out complex operations there. Faivre said that Macron’s visit to Qatar came after two successful operations held on December 2, enabling the delivery of 40 tonnes of emergency aid to Kabul on a Qatari military flight in the framework of the joint Franco-Qatari humanitarian operation, and the departure of more than 250 Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris, via Doha. “During his meeting with His Highness the Amir, President Macron praised Qatar's exceptional support in the operations carried out since the end of the summer to enable the departure of French and Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris via Doha,” the ambassador said, adding: “He also underlined the exceptional commitment of Qatari teams in charge of these operations, particularly HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohamed al-Khater.” “To date, around 100 French nationals and nearly 400 Afghan nationals at risk left Kabul to France via Doha,” Faivre said. He said that Qatar and France have a “shared will” to work together on regional issues and reaffirmed their willingness to maintain stability in the region, citing in Lebanon and developments in the Gulf and neighbouring relations. “Our goal is to foster peace for a more stable and prosperous region,” Faivre said. “This can only be achieved through a structured regional dialogue.” “This dialogue was successfully launched at the Baghdad Conference on August 28,” he pointed out. “France, with Qatar, intends to deepen this dynamic by ensuring the follow-up of this important conference for regional co-operation.” “On Lebanon, the two heads of state strongly reaffirmed the need to preserve the stability and security of that country,” Faivre said. “They expressed their solidarity with the Lebanese people and they reaffirmed their willingness to increase their emergency assistance.” “They reaffirmed the need for a way out of the current multifaceted crisis in Lebanon,” he added. On Libya, the ambassador said that “both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a comprehensive and political solution to the Libyan crisis, which must be Libyan-led”. “The resolution of the crisis lies in the holding of the elections scheduled for December 24,” Faivre added. The envoy also said that Qatar and France have a common commitment to pursue the fight terrorism: “There is a major threat to our collective security. President Macon and His Highness the Amir have underlined their commitment to continue and deepen our fight against terrorism and radicalisation, including its financing.”    

Argentina is looking to attract Qatari investments in the fields of food production and agriculture, according to ambassador Marcelo Gilardoni, who said further discussions are underway to promote growth in both countries’ bilateral relations. “We are very much looking at Qatari investments in food and agricultural land, as well as in companies that would produce food exports to Qatar. This may also include animal fodder and agricultural products,” Gilardoni told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview. Gilardoni stressed that aside from looking to improve Qatar-Argentina economic ties, the embassy is “working very closely” with Qatar to meet the objectives of the country’s food security strategy. “We’re also exploring the possibility of attracting Qatari investments in some of Argentina’s food industries. And we’re working together in these areas with the Ministry of Municipality and their respective counterparts in Argentina. “We are open to having business delegations from Argentina and Qatar explore the investment climates of both countries. We have postponed some of these visits because of the pandemic, but we’re hoping that by mid-2022, we could set up a joint commission with Qatar either a virtual or face-to-face, but these plans are in the pipeline,” he also stressed. With less than $1bn in trade exchange figures, Gilardoni emphasised that Qatar and Argentina still “have a lot of space for improvement” in terms of the import and export of goods and services between both countries. Beef and lamb, as well as chicken, are among Argentina’s major food exports to Qatar, the ambassador said. “The next step is to get the government ministries and their counterparts in Argentina to work on the agreements that we need to sign that would enhance bilateral trade of both countries, and to reduce the obstacles to trade and investment, and to discuss other issues that Qatar and Argentina must overcome,” the ambassador pointed out. He further said: “We are also working with different producers and companies in the field of agriculture and machinery, as well as in the construction materials sector. Argentina has a lot to offer to our international partners, such as Qatar.” As a major tourism destination, Gilardoni said Argentina is also looking to attract more Qataris and people from Qatar to visit and experience what the South American country has to offer. He said talks are underway with Qatar Airways to resume its flights to Buenos Aires. Only recently, the ambassador hosted a beef and wine tasting event at his residence to introduce and promote these Argentinian products to key stakeholders in Qatar. The event, which was held under health and safety protocols, showcased the culinary expertise of an Argentinian chef. It was also highlighted by a performance of Argentinian tango dancers and a singer. He added: “We want to put in touch producers in Argentina with the importers in Qatar to determine the demand in Qatar. We've been working with Qatar Distribution Company (QDC) and also with other hypermarkets in Qatar. The idea is to promote our country’s chicken, lamb, beef, and fish, as well as other products from our country. “We plan to collaborate with hypermarkets in Qatar in organising ‘Argentina Week’ so we can showcase our products. We can hold a much bigger beef tasting event during the celebration of Argentina Week, which could include a large delegation from Argentina meeting with the concerned authorities in both the public and private sector.”

Adopting transformational technology is becoming a necessity for the small and medium-sized (SME) sector to elevate its contribution to the economy, an expert at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has said. Speaking at a recently held online forum, Yazen al-Safi, adviser for Digital Industry Development at MCIT, emphasised that SMEs are considered as a key to ensuring economic growth and fostering innovation, in addition to being the backbone of Qatar’s economy. The forum titled ‘Big Data: How can SMEs Benefit from Big Data, Best Practices, Policies, & Show Cases’ was organised by MCIT, in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA). Dr Haidar Fraihat, leader of Statistics, Information Society & Technology Cluster at ESCWA delivered the welcome address. The first session on ‘Big Data Concepts, Policies, Readiness Assessment was delivered by Dr Nawar al-Awa, regional adviser on Technology for Development at ESCWA, while the second session titled ‘Big Data Applications and Frameworks’ was led by Ahmed al-Awah, ICT Section chief at ESCWA, and Roaa al-Feel of ESCWA’s ICT Section. According to al-Safi, the MCIT’s digital forums this year have been focusing on the role and the benefits of digital transformation and cloud adoption for SMEs in terms of renovating their business model, optimising their costs, and adding agility to their operations. “The fourth edition of our digital forums, which will be the last one for this year, is dedicated to data and since they are the foundation of every system, they create a minimum societal or economic added value. “However, we can maximise their value after combining and turning them into information and then knowledge with the means of enrichment and contextualisation, thus data and big data analytics is considered as the centrepiece for SME digital transformation since combining and analysing the enterprise data with other sources will enable SMEs to discover many new possibilities for adding value to the customers with better products and services,” al-Safi stressed. Al-Safi said: “This forum is about our new reality that is leading comprehensive changes in all areas of our society. Therefore, we would like to urge our SMEs and entrepreneurs to benefit from today’s presentations and capture the experience of our distinguished speakers to transform their businesses and harness technology to deliver new value to our society for a better tomorrow.” Mohamed al-Assi, DTSME project manager at MCIT, added: “The development of SMEs and their role in digital transformation is certainly an essential element in contributing to building a knowledge-based economy and achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. The MCIT is committed to achieving the goals of this vision. “The DTSME programme encourages SMEs to use Information Technology and raise awareness on the benefits of using modern technology in the business sector. From the beginning of the programme, more than 3,000 SMEs have participated and over 1,000 have digitally transformed through more than 300 workshops.”    

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has concluded the fourth edition of its ‘Investment Forum, which was held Monday under the theme ‘Transforming Economies through a New Investment Paradigm’. QDB acting CEO Abdulrahman Hesham al-Sowaidi said the forum complements and builds on the successes of its predecessors by introducing highly-relevant and pivotal topics that aim to explore new horizons for the next generation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to collaborate with investors and venture capital (VC) funds towards transforming industries and enhancing the investment environment in Qatar. “This annual meeting translates the importance of investing in startups and SMEs. It has been gaining even more traction in recent times as the percentage of investment in these companies globally increased by 4% to reach $300bn in 2020 alone,” noted al-Sowaidi, adding that the forum aims to advance the country’s status as a prominent investment destination globally. “Despite the consequences of the pandemic, Qatar has sustained the same level of growth…the total VC investment in Qatar grew by more than 40% in the first half of 2021 compared to the full year of 2020,” al-Sowaidi stressed. The forum witnessed the participation of more than 350 attendees, including angel investors, investment banks, private enterprises, and professionals interested in the investment domain. Participants also included a number of business accelerators, VC funds, and various entities interested in exploring and connecting with startups across different sectors and growth stages. Also, the forum witnessed the launch of a purpose-built, integrated digital platform that enables fast-growing companies to present relevant information on their ventures and target raise amounts to investors looking for promising new ideas and up-and-coming companies, and allows them to organise virtual meetings, explore investment opportunities, and establish mutually beneficial collaborations. The platform is accessible via investment.qdb.qa The forum also featured a special panel discussion by renowned industry experts from Qatar and around the world. Titled ‘Accelerating Economic Transformation through Venture Capital’, the panel explored the opportunities available in innovative companies in their early stages. During the event, and as part of its ongoing collaboration with national partners and stakeholders, QDB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Qatar Financial Centre to promote investment in SMEs, advance Qatar’s status as an investment hub, enrich the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and contribute to the growth of the national economy. The forum concluded with a pitching session where a select group of companies showcased their businesses to participating investors with the aim of raising funds for their ventures. The presentations were followed by a series of over 30 meetings between investors and participating startups to network and navigate investment opportunities together. Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Mohamed al-Emadi, head of Angel Investment at QDB, noted that tech has emerged as a promising sector, citing the role played by tech companies and startups during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I would say this is great evidence of how the technology sector is helping us with our lives...if you look at the highest market cap companies today that are listed in different global public markets, they are actually operating in the technology sector, so this gives you an indication of that sector,” he explained. Through its various programmes and incubators, QDB aims to support SMEs, while further developing the private sector in Qatar. The bank, through its Investment Department, also aims to be an effective catalyst for socio-economic development and works towards enhancing the investment climate in Qatar and advancing its ranks as a preferred investment destination, especially after it secured its rank as the third safest country in the world in the Global Finance Safety Index 2021.

On the back of public and private sector support, Qatar’s entrepreneurial and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape is expected to make an “amazing shift” in the next five years, a top official of Injaz Qatar has said. Emad al-Khaja, Injaz Qatar CEO, told Gulf Times that many initiatives have been implemented by different government agencies and ministries in Qatar, as well major private stakeholders that continue to support the country’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem. “As Injaz Qatar, we’re also part of the ecosystem, so we're here and happy to help out in this process. As you can see, we're all working towards one mission, which is getting more successful startups up and going. These efforts are all for startups, which have been producing amazing and mind-blowing ideas, especially with comes to tech and artificial intelligence (AI),” al-Khaja explained. On al-Khaja’s forecast for Qatar’s SME and startup sector, he said: “We have ‘the perfect kitchen and we have amazing ingredients and amazing chefs’. Putting all these elements together, as well as all of these stakeholders, creates an amazing ecosystem that both the government and the private sector are investing in. Al-Khaja said top international companies have started investing and supporting Qatar’s SMEs and tech industries, such as ‘ed tech’, fintech, and sports tech, among other sectors. “The way I see it, the ecosystem in Qatar will grow massively. I’d like to look at things positively, so Covid-19 gave us a boost in the right direction, and honestly, look out for the next five years, there will be an amazing shift in the landscape in Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he stressed. According to al-Khaja, innovation, technology, and fintech have become vital in day-to-day living following the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he said, had put businesses in Qatar “on the right track and in the right direction.” “Everyone has been saying that Covid-19 is a blessing in disguise because the pandemic actually pushed people in the right direction, paving the way for the creation of different types of innovative digital solutions,” al-Khaja added. Injaz Qatar partners together with the local business community, corporate volunteers, and educators to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy. It is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA), the world’s largest organisation dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programmes. Injaz Qatar is also part of Injaz Al-Arab, a network of 14 Mena countries working on a common mission to prepare and inspire young Arabs to succeed in a global economy. Founded in 2007, Injaz Qatar has since reached over 100,000 students across 100 schools and universities, thanks to 90 corporate partners and over 2,800 corporate volunteers.

Innovative entrepreneurs from Qatar and nine Arab countries have participated in the recently-concluded ‘E-commerce Hackathon’, a first in Qatar organised by Innovation Café. The staging of the four-day hybrid hackathon was aimed at encouraging innovation and crowdsourcing solutions to address, nurture, and launch the latest innovation opportunities in the e-commerce industry. Sponsored by Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Vodafone, Microsoft, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and Snoonu, the hackathon gathered innovators, entrepreneurs, and creative minds from Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey. The participants demonstrated their ideas across eight e-commerce themes: ‘Artificial Intelligence Solutions for E-commerce’, ‘Unique Mobile E-commerce Solutions’, ‘E-commerce Payment Solutions’, ‘Marketing Automation’, ‘Customer Experience’, ‘AR/VR for Product Virtualisation’, ‘Fulfilment Automation & Robotics’, and ‘Last Mile Delivery Technology & Robotics’. Innovation Cafe founder Ramzan al-Naimi said, “It was just an idea, but with passion and partners who believed in making ideas happen, we did do a lot. We were honoured to host the first-ever e-commerce hackathon in the State of Qatar. We received more than 300 applications and after the assessment and ideas evaluation, we shortlisted over 100 applicants from all backgrounds from 10 countries to participate both virtually and in person at Qatar Science & Technology Park. “Our biggest aim of organising this hackathon was to come up with cutting-edge solutions in the e-commerce sector that could become the next billion-dollar Qatari based unicorns. We are grateful to our sponsors, judges, mentors, partners, and, of course, the participants.” The participating teams were evaluated on the basis of market feasibility, contribution to the Qatar National Vision 2030, team skills, innovation, and alignment with the theme. The panel of judges included MBK Holding chairman Sheikh Mansoor bin Khalifa al-Thani, Snoonu co-founder and CEO/CTO Hamad al-Hajri, QDB Angel Investment head Mohamed al-Emadi, QSTP accelerator manager Mohamed Zebian, and Muyasser Taqi-Deen. The top three winning teams were announced on the last day of the hackathon. The winners bagged the opportunity to access up to QR75,000 in support and investment, integration into Snoonu Incubation Programme (SIP), access to investors and partners to pitch their business idea, and access to local and international mentors belonging to the industry's leading corporations. The winners were also rewarded with preferred access to apply into a recently-launched initiative by Microsoft programme and upon securing approval, they could unlock up to $350,000 in value across Microsoft’s cloud stack, technical guidance, 1:1 mentorship, and self-led learning. The best pitch award, presented by Injaz Qatar, was announced where each winning team member won an iPad. Two special winner awards were also presented by Innovation Catalysts Institute. To address today’s real-world challenges in the e-commerce industry, Innovation Café, a Doha-based innovation and design thinking studio, joined forces with strategic partners, including Qatar Financial Centre, MBK Holding, KiwiTech, QMIC, Innovation Catalyst Institute, Beyond Capital, Dohastartups.com, Bedaya, Doha TechAngels, Fatora, Injaz Qatar, MZAD Qatar, Phaze Venturez, Phaze Ro, Rimads, SkipCash, StartupGrind, QatarLiving.com, 360 Nautica, Draper Startup House, Oasis, Qatar Scientific Club, and Tasmu Smart Qatar.

The US is among the leading nations in food innovation, according to Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International, who noted that LuLu has increased its food imports from the North American country. “The US is a country where a lot of food innovation is happening. America is known a lot for its defence programme and other technology, but food is also one area where they did really well in the last several years. “For example, they are now in a position to export cheese to cheese-producing countries. Also, the US is exporting Medjool dates to Saudi Arabia, so it has a lot of innovation and a lot of capacity to do that,” Dr Althaf recently told Gulf Times on the sidelines of its annual ‘Discover America’ promotion, which concludes in all LuLu hypermarkets today. LuLu Qatar’s imports from the US has gone up substantially, Dr Althaf reiterated, saying the hypermarket chain is expanding and adding more US products to include not only premium brands but also a very decent range of products that customers will enjoy. “Our Discover America event at LuLu is getting bigger every year and we continue to add more brands and other products being offered during this occasion. With every promotion, we are targeting to increase our product range by at least 10% and bring non-conventional products,” Dr Althaf explained. Discover America 2021 was inaugurated by US embassy Doha charge d’affaires Natalie A Baker. She said the annual event “is a wonderful example” of the partnership between Qatar and the US, especially in the fields of trade and investments. “Coming out of the Covi-19 pandemic, I think this is a very important display of the future of our partnership with even more varieties of American products that are available in Qatar through LuLu Hypermarket and in new areas, too. “Discover America is also coming as part of the ‘Year of Culture’ between the United States and Qatar, which is an excellent example of the ways that we work together in the arts, culture, and educational exchanges, as well,” Baker stressed. Baker said, “Also, we just celebrated the fourth annual strategic dialogue, which showcases the different aspects of our partnership; Discover America is part of that overall growth in the bilateral relationship. The strategic dialogue has demonstrated that we have so many areas of mutual interest globally and in the region. “The strategic partnership and dialogue also focused on the economic relationships, so we are expanding our trade and investments in different sectors, not only Qatari investments in the different areas in the US but also US investments in Qatar; we are trying to attract even more businesses here.” Asked about the role of the US in Qatar’s food security strategy, Baker said: “The United States is very proud to play a role in food security here in Qatar. Now, there are more and more products that are being directly distributed from the United States to Qatar. “LuLu, for example, has a distribution centre in New Jersey and we hope that there will be another distribution centre and other partnerships in the United States to provide US products of all varieties, and so we do hope that in those areas trade will only continue to expand.”    

US companies operating in Qatar participated in a recently-held seminar, which tackled important topics under the theme ‘Changes in the Qatar and US Compliance Landscape – What Businesses Should Know’. Hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar), the event featured Michael Gunnison, senior counsel at Crowell & Moring Doha, who discussed Qatar’s new anti-money laundering legislation and recent US-Qatar enforcement developments, said AmCham Qatar executive director Lisa Saad. During the seminar, Gunnison examined ‘Law No 20 of 2019 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing’, and ‘Law No 27 of 2019 on Combating Terrorism’. Gunnison said Law No 20 of 2019 criminalises money laundering and terrorist financing, defines financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), and establishes the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee. He said the law also empowers specified supervisory authorities to issue AML regulations and oversee regulated sectors. “Both of these laws have general application in Qatar regardless of whether your company is registered in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), and both of these laws have implementing regulations that add specificity to companies’ legal obligations under both Law No 20 and No 27,” he explained. “A point worth noting is that the law takes a very broad approach to defining money laundering. The Qatar law criminalises any transaction knowingly undertaken with money traceable to a crime,” said Gunnison. He said, “Qatari law is very inclusive and refers to any crime. This could be narcotics, human trafficking, any kind of fraud, bribery, export control violations, and even money from sales of counterfeit goods, just to name a few. “This is important to know when companies develop their own risk-based compliance policies. Just like in the United States, Qatar obligates companies to implement a range of practices in support of their anti-money laundering effort.” Gunnison emphasised that Qatar's new laws and regulations create a good environment to protect the financial and reputational interests of companies, adding that following the QFC guidance “is the best way to ensure compliance with all the applicable regulations.” “Always choose the highest standards of conduct in regard to both Qatar and the United States’ laws, be familiar with your operational and reputational risks, and make sure your training and awareness reflect the current risk environment,” he added. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, Gunnison said Qatar is “a mature and growing commercial centre” that has shown its commitment to creating a business environment that does not tolerate money laundering or commercial crime. He added: “And they have been making a concerted effort to enact appropriate legislation and regulations that conform with the world's best practices, as reflected in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.” “This is good news for the commercial sector because it shows that by basing your business here you will not expose your company to financial or reputational risks. That might be the case in a jurisdiction with regulations that are more lax, so this shows that more regulation does not necessarily impede business: It promotes good practices. It is part of what attracts companies to base here.”

Qatar’s evolving tourism landscape has been attracting more agents and tour operators wanting to explore new opportunities being offered across different areas in the country, an industry stakeholder participating in Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2021 has said. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of QTM or the Qatar International Exhibition for Travel & Tourism, Tawfeeq Travel Group CEO Rehan Ali Syed noted that the current trend “is very positive.” “Hosting such a big event here has prompted major ‘fam trips’ and a lot of people from different markets, such as Italy, the US, and many other countries have come here, which is a very positive indication for Qatar. “All the agents and tour operators that we are meeting are very excited to look at Qatar because there has been a change in the different kinds of businesses happening all around. In Dubai, there are lots of things happening. But in Qatar, with so many opportunities available and new places opening up, everybody is keen to be here,” Syed stressed. According to Syed, “more importantly, FIFA is Qatar.” He explained that the World Cup has been a “big brand” for Qatar. “I’m sure that with the kind of arrangements going on, many people are expecting something phenomenal, which is going to happen in 2022. Adding to that, with Qatar hosting its first-ever Formula One Grand Prix just before the World Cup, that’s like cherry on the cake, so that’s fantastic to have that happening here, as well,” he said. Syed also lauded the statements delivered by Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker in his speech during the QTM opening ceremony. Al-Baker pointed out that tourism has “immense potential” to create a real positive impact across all the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, creating new jobs, growing GDP, and diversifying Qatar’s economy. “The investments are going on and more people are trying to reach out to different countries. At Tawfeeq Travel, we are investing big time to develop the inbound business. We have changed our brand to ‘Tawfeeq Holidays’ for people coming in from abroad. We are participating with Qatar Tourism in going out to different markets to create more events about Qatar and get more visitors into the country,” he explained. Since quarantine policies are being relaxed, the travel and tourism sector “is getting much better,” said Syed, who also stressed the need for the safe reopening of borders and strict adherence to health and safety regulations when travelling. “Qatar has got lots to offer; I feel that with the current trend going on it will just pick up further. Also, the government is doing a good job to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and the visitors coming to Qatar,” he said. On Qatar Tourism’s target of attracting 6mn international visitors annually by 2030 and to increase travel and tourism’s GDP contribution to 12%, Syed said these plans would benefit Qatar’s entire economy and will push the development of different sectors, such as retail, F&B, and hospitality, among others.

Qatar has recently celebrated the one-year countdown to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Most infrastructure projects have been delivered but government authorities are still working non-stop to assure that Qatar will present the best World Cup experience to the millions of fans expected to arrive in the country next year. “The upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup is not only one of the most anticipated tournaments but also one of the world’s most spectated sporting events in history. Being the host country comes with its fair share of prestige that has catapulted Qatar to the world’s centre stage,” said Kaspersky head of Enterprise Rashed al-Momani, who discussed with Gulf Times a range of topics, such as the government’s preparations to assure the safety of fans, industrial control systems, and cybersecurity, as well as cybercrime, among others. What are the potential cybersecurity threats that organisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup should look after? The Qatar government has invested in building several stellar football stadiums as part of its bid to host the World Cup that is set to attract millions of visitors from around the world. Hosting an event of this scale involves a lot of logistics, which is only made easier with technology. As the Qatari government continues to heavily invest in everything from infrastructure, stadiums, communication, and logistics for the event, and anything in between, the reliance on technology will only grow. With more and more technology and devices being connected to the Internet, the greater the risk for attacks. It is important for the organisers to implement a holistic cybersecurity approach that protects every aspect of the event from the tickets and website to the critical infrastructure and IoT connected devices to prevent attacks from taking place. One particular cyber threat for consumers is online phishing, where criminals try to lure football fans by offering fake business offers, such as tickets, live streaming, and merchandise related to the games. In the course of two months, from August 15 to October 15, 2021, Kaspersky detected 11,000 fraudulent e-mails that used the World Cup as a trap. What cybersecurity protocols must Qatar put in place to avert these threats? What role does cybersecurity play in ensuring the safety of both fans and the government of Qatar during the staging of the World Cup next year? As the country gears up for this highly-anticipated event, Qatar has placed the 2022 FIFA World Cup cybersecurity at the forefront. It is important for the country to implement a holistic cybersecurity solution that protects the large number of fans visiting for the event. An event with a size and scale of a World Cup will undoubtedly attract the attention of cybercriminals. Cybersecurity will play a major role in ensuring the safety and security of the guests. It is the responsibility of the host country to safeguard its guests. The Qatar government has been making great steps in ensuring that the safety of guests is their first priority. Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) held a summit of security experts from around the world ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in order to explore the types of cyber threats that large sporting events face. The SC issued this cyber framework to set a standard for all those involved in the FIFA World Cup. As part of the framework, cyber-competencies and cyber-capabilities essential to safeguarding critical national services would be defined. Since there will be more digital presence than ever before, there will be additional challenges regarding security and privacy. With the help of many global partners, the Security Committee developed the Qatar Cybersecurity Framework (QCF) to ensure a safe and secure event. Implementing frameworks such as this one plays a key role in working towards Qatar achieving its goal of being a cyber-secure event. Elaborate further on advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks affecting Qatar. Kaspersky researchers have kept a close eye on Qatar for APT and are currently monitoring seven cyber gangs actively targeting the country since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Kaspersky researchers issued 14 threat intelligence reports as a result of investigations associated with these groups that are primarily targeting governmental and diplomatic entities as well as companies in the telecommunications sector. According to our research, Qatar seems to be less targeted when compared to other countries in the Middle East. However, it still remains essential for organisations to have threat intelligence capabilities that provide them with a 360-degree view to focus on how to address these attacks. Kaspersky works closely with local law enforcement agencies to provide them with information that can be used to track down and prosecute the groups responsible for such attacks. How is Qatar progressing in terms of protecting its industrial control systems and making sure that it’s secure? Industrial control system (ICS) security concerns the safeguarding and protection of control systems that are used for monitoring industrial processes. The oil and gas industry is an important part of Qatar’s economy and we’ve seen the country take major steps in order to ensure the protection of its critical infrastructure by prioritising cybersecurity and following the latest global standards. Attacks against industrial organisations always carry the potential to be particularly devastating, both in terms of disruption to production and financial losses. In addition, attacks against industrial enterprises have become more targeted, organised by sophisticated threat actors with extensive resources whose goals may not just be financial gain but also cyberespionage. Therefore, we need specialised solutions and services dedicated to this sector to be able to stay ahead of such threats. Some of the solutions we offer include endpoint protection for industrial hosts, network visibility and threat detection, OT security training, and security assessment to offer organisation a holistic approach to protecting their industrial systems.    

Discussions are underway between Georgian and Qatari officials on how to support food producers from both countries, as well as ways to increase bilateral trade and strengthen economic relations. Speaking to reporters at LuLu Hypermarket in Abu Sidra Mall Monday, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Khvtisiashvili, underscored the growing relations between Qatar and Georgia, saying LuLu has been playing a significant role in bringing more Georgian products to the Qatari market. Khvtisiashvili is in Qatar to hold political consultations with several top Qatari officials. His delegation comprises Nikoloz Revazishvili, ambassador of Georgia to Qatar; Zurab Aleksidze, director of Middle East and Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; and Aleksandre Jishkariani, senior counselor at the Georgian embassy here. “We are discussing steps to increase the bilateral trade between Qatar and Georgia, as well as ways to strengthen our political and economic relations and to support each other in many international fora. “We are also expecting Qatar to increase its investments in Georgia in the fields of energy, logistics, agriculture, and IT, as well as transportation, among others,” the deputy minister stressed. According to Khvtisiashvili, Georgia has increased its exports to Qatar, particularly food products, as well as meats, particularly lamb. Aside from meat and other agricultural products, Georgia is also eyeing to increase its exports of textiles and footwear products, said Khvtisiashvili, who described Qatar as “a good market not just for Georgia but for other countries.” Khvtisiashvili hailed the role played by LuLu in promoting the growth and exposure of Georgian products in the Qatari market, citing the hypermarket chain’s extensive network of stores across Qatar. The deputy minister, along with his accompanying delegation, toured LuLu Hypermarket Abu Sidra on Monday to view the wide range of Georgian food products on display. Khvtisiashvili said Georgia is expecting high-level business and Qatari delegations to visit Georgia to discuss and explore investment and trade opportunities between both countries. Direct flights and Georgia’s visa-free regime are also expected to play a role in increasing the number of tourists from Qatar to Georgia now that travel restrictions are slowly being relaxed and borders are opening, he said. “Prior to the pandemic, the number of tourists from Qatar to Georgia and vice versa has increased. Many Georgians are expected to visit Qatar to celebrate and watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Similarly, we expect more Qataris to visit Georgia for business and leisure in the future,” the deputy minister emphasised.

Georgia, which has increased its food exports to Qatar, is looking to further support the State’s food security strategy, Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, has said. Althaf said food security was among the several pressing topics he discussed with Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Khvtisiashvili, during his visit at LuLu Hypermarket in Abu Sidra Mall Monday. “We were honoured to receive the deputy minister; he is a very high-level dignitary and even during his hectic diplomatic activity, he spent a lot of time at LuLu Hypermarket Abu Sidra, which shows Georgia’s interest in doing business with Qatar and with LuLu,” Althaf told reporters on the sidelines of the visit. Aside from food security, Althaf said his meeting with the deputy minister also focused on how to increase Georgia’s food exports to the region and Qatar, such as different types of Georgian meats, particularly lamb; they also discussed ways to collaborate in promoting Georgia and Qatar. “There are two aspects to food security. One is we become self-reliant on production, while the second is that we keep our supply chain level open and diversify it. One leg of the food security is done quite successfully in Qatar, which is to encourage local production. “The second leg is to diversify the sources because as we witnessed in the past two years, a lot of countries worldwide had logistics problems and environmental challenges, as well as extreme weather conditions and disruptions, but you don’t find a shortage in Qatar in spite of all these problems in previous years. That is because we also have this sourcing policy for good, quality products from all over the world,” Althaf explained. Althaf also said the deputy minister was impressed with the economic development achieved by Qatar and the food security measures the State has implemented. Khvtisiashvili said LuLu has played a significant role in increasing Georgia’s exports to Qatar by bringing in more Georgian food and agricultural products to the country through its extensive chain of hypermarkets. “It is a prestige to bring Georgian products to LuLu stores because of the great partnership we have forged with them. Our collaboration with this hypermarket chain has been a big advantage for us. “We are planning to increase the quantity and the range of our products. We are inviting LuLu to visit Georgia to explore other products that could be exported to Qatar. Beyond meats and juices, there are also some other products to be discovered in our country, such as agricultural products that we would like to sell here,” he said.

The US is seeking to bring in more of its food products, including other high-quality American brands, to Qatar, according to US embassy Doha charge d’affaires Natalie A Baker, who inaugurated LuLu Hypermarket Qatar’s annual ‘Discover America’ promotion held on Sunday at Abu Sidra Mall. In a speech, Baker said: “Discover America is a real treat for all Americans living in Qatar, as well as other residents and Qataris who have studied, visited, and lived in the United States. The wide variety of products featured in the 2021 Discover America event here today highlights our shared goals of bringing more US brands and foods to Qatar. “I commend you for the increased selection of healthy and light options that LuLu carries, given the rising health consciousness in Qatar and the region. From more fruits and vegetables to organic and processed foods, it is wonderful to see the diversity of American products from every corner of the United States.” She added: “Food is the most fundamental celebration of any culture, so it is very fitting that this event comes as we are just about to start the grand finale of the 2021 Qatar-USA Year of Culture. I’d like to invite everyone to participate in the 2021 Qatar-USA Festival, which will be held from November 24th through the 29th.” On the sidelines of the event, Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, spoke on LuLu’s contributions to sustainable development, citing Abu Sidra Mall as an environment-friendly establishment. He said, “This building where we are celebrating the 2021 Discover America event is designed with a lot of vision, and this is the least environmentally-impacted construction in retail here now. A lot of engineering innovations have happened here. Also, this store is regarded as one of the largest but for us, it is one of the best-in-class.” “Over the last 10 years, our business, the volume, and the quality of our products witnessed substantial growth. Like many of you know, we already have our export distribution centre in New Jersey. We are now expanding our footprint in the US; we are opening our Quality Control Office in Los Angeles very soon. We are moving into another facility in the nearby states.” He added: “The US is a very large agrarian economy; it is much more diverse and has a very heterogeneous soil mix. Unlike other countries that we deal with, the US is not a monocrop country – we can get anything out of the US now. The country offers an enormous number of products and we hope to bring a lot of that to Qatar, which is very good for the food security of the country.”    

LuLu Hypermarket kicked off its annual ‘Discover America’ promotion in all LuLu hypermarkets on Sunday. Organised in association with the Embassy of the United States in Qatar and American Chamber of Commerce Qatar (AmCham), US embassy Doha charge d’affaires Natalie A Baker inaugurated the festival at LuLu Hypermarket, Abu Sidra Mall. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests from the US Commercial Service, AmCham, USDA Office of Agricultural Affairs, American Women’s Association, and senior officials, including Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, and many dignitaries from various American and leading organisations operating in Qatar. More than 4,000 American products, including 100 new product lines are being featured in LuLu’s ‘Discover America’ promotion, which is available to shoppers from November 21 to 27 across all LuLu stores in Qatar. The bounty of US-made selections and attractive promotional offers on all American food and non-food categories, which broadly include meat, chilled and dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, grocery lines, beauty lines, roastery, and deli hot and cold, showcases LuLu’s longstanding business relations with America. The popular ‘LuLu Kitchens’ will fill the aisles with specialty hot foods fragrant with signature American flavours inspired by classic culinary items. Discover America is the best way to explore the versatility of products that represent new tastes, which the US has introduced to the world. Despite challenging circumstances, LuLu’s trade with the US has touched new heights in the previous financial year with the addition of new lines. Most importantly, LuLu has put emphasis on showcasing the biggest range of ‘free from’ worry food products, such as organic, gluten-free, lactose-free, dairy-free, vegan, and many other healthy options that were imported from the US. LuLu Hypermarket has been hosting the festival for the past 10 years, garnering an overwhelming response from its customers. LuLu hypermarkets treasure the longstanding business relations with the US for more than a decade. And by organising the festival, LuLu aims to further promote US produce and food products through its stores in the region. Besides its export distribution centre in the US, LuLu Group has set up many years back a comprehensive and well-established international network of sourcing offices and export distribution centres across the world, including Brazil, the UK, Spain, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Kenya, Benin, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Vietnam, among others. These export distribution centres regularly cater to the requirements of all LuLu outlets across different geographical landscapes. LuLu Group is always making sustained efforts through an organised logistics network to make global products available at the best rates for shoppers, which makes LuLu distinct in the retail sector.    

  As more countries are opening their borders and relaxing travel restrictions, Italy is ready for the influx of Qatari tourists, as well as other visitors from across the globe, Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas has said. Italy’s top diplomat here made the statement on the sidelines of Qatar Travel Mart 2021, which opened Tuesay and will run until November 18 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC). “This event has come at the right time and in the wake of the impact of Covid-19 on the global travel and tourism industry. Countries, including Italy, are reopening for tourism but with the necessary precautions aimed at maintaining the health and safety of all visitors,” Prunas told Gulf Times. Citing figures from Unesco, Prunas said Italy is a leader in the tourism industry, with over 70% of world heritage sites is found across different parts of the country. “Italy is one of the countries that can give the largest possible diversity in terms of tourism destination,” he stressed. The Italian pavilion at Qatar Travel Mart 2021, which will run until November 18 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC). PICTURE: Thajudheen “For us, it is a natural choice to be present at Qatar Travel Mart 2021 and having one of the largest pavilions on the exhibition hall. We do look at Qatar as a very important market because we know that Qataris love Italy. We are encouraging not only Qataris but everyone to come to Italy because we are open for business again,” he stressed. Giorgio Palmucci, the president of ENIT (Italian National Tourism Board), also said Italy is ready to host a new wave of tourists, reiterating the ambassador’s earlier statement that Qatar is an “important market for us,” citing ongoing events and activities, particularly the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “Today, I think that it’s very important to present our country to Qatar, and at the same time we know there are many Italian tourists ready to come and visit Qatar, so it’s very important to work with the country’s tourism board because we think that the partnership between our countries is one of the best, and similar to Qatar Airways, which I think is the best company in the world, so it is important for us to create and improve our relationship with this country,” he stressed. “While it is true that it is important to bring foreign tourists to Italy, but it is, likewise, important to help Italian tourists discover the world, so they are ready to travel and come to Qatar,” he said, adding that Doha is seen as a hub for Italian tourists travelling through Qatar to other parts of the world. Conversely, Palmucci said the Italian Ministry of Tourism is working to make it easier for Italians to travel to Qatar, adding that more tourists from Italy are expected to visit Qatar from December.