*Products from siege countries removed from local market

Private sector leader Qatar Chamber has lauded the recent decision of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) to remove from the local market all products originating from the siege countries.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed an economic blockade against Qatar in June last year.
On Saturday, the MEC issued a directive enjoining all shopping outlets and hypermarkets to remove from their shelves all products coming from the blockading countries.
Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani said in a statement that the decision runs parallel with the chamber’s demands to boycott all items and goods from the siege countries when it launched the motto ‘Qatar is Above the Blockade’ in October 2017.
“This decision also goes in line with Qatar Chamber’s call for Qatari businessmen to stop importing the goods and items of the blockading countries ... these countries have cut their relationships with Qatar and closed their land, sea and air ports for Qatar. It is an unfair blockade that targeted the sovereignty and independence of the country and hampers its development and prosperity,” the statement said.
Sheikh Khalifa thanked all the government entities concerned on their cooperation with Qatar Chamber on the issues that pertain to Qatar’s private sector. He also expressed his appreciation for HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani for his support to the private sector.
He also urged local businessmen to keep investing in the industrial sector and to enhance national production in all fields, with more focus on industry to lessen the dependence on import of various goods.
Commenting on the MEC decision, the Government Communication Office (GCO) said the blockading countries closed their land and sea borders as well as their airports, territory and airspace to goods destined for Qatar. "These measures impacted all goods passing across," the GCO said, adding they have subsequently adopted a series of ancillary restrictions and arbitrary exceptions. 
It said products originating from the blockading states , which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Territory, have to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures.
The GCO stressed Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with multilateral and bilateral agreements.
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