Food security represents a top priority for Qatar on the developmental level and is one of the main pillars of the country’s security and economic independence in terms of securing the needs of future Qatari generations in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, said HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari.
He was participating in a panel discussion on food security at the Kuala Lumpur 2019 Summit, held under the title "The role of development in achieving national sovereignty" recently.


HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari attending the Summit


HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari with other delegates 

QNV aims to transform the country into a developed country in 2030, capable of achieving sustainable development and ensuring a decent living for its people for generation to come.
Al-Kuwari explained that the “unfair blockade” imposed on the country since 2017 presented an important opportunity for Qatar to review its economic strategies and policies, particularly plans to achieve food security.
Qatar laid the foundations of its National Food Security Strategy 2019-2023 to unite efforts among concerned authorities, optimise the use of the country's natural and water resources, fortify the food security system against shocks during emergencies, identify priorities in terms of food security initiatives and projects, protect and promote local production, improve food quality and safety and maintain a safe and healthy strategic stock.
On the four pillars of Qatar’s National Food Security Strategy, the minister said Qatar sought to enhance the contribution of private sector to the implementation and development of food security projects and has pitched several projects to investors especially in the agricultural and industrial fields.
As a result, Qatar was able to achieve high levels of self-sufficiency in terms of various agricultural products and secure a strategic stock of commodities.
In just two years, Qatar’s self-sufficiency in terms of dairy products increased from 27% to 106% and from 49% to 123% in terms of fresh poultry.
On the industrial level, al-Kuwari said investments in the food industries sector also increased 126% to QR5.2bn in 2019 compared to QR2.3bn in 2016.
A set of mechanisms has also been established to take advantage of Qatar’s advanced infrastructure and strategic location to locally manufacture and produce food and agricultural products among other items and to export these products into regional and international markets.
In this regard, the minister highlighted the journey of Baladna Food Industries, which is “one of the most successful national ventures on the industrial level.”
He said the company contributed to Qatar’s self-sufficiency in terms of dairy products at 100%, noting that a memorandum of understanding was signed between Baladna and the Malaysian governmental Felcra Berhad to raise the industrial production capacity of both sides.
He also commended the efforts of the governmental and private sectors, which bolstered Qatar’s strategic position in food security as the country ranked first in the Arab world and 22 globally in terms of food growth, according to the latest 2018 World Food Index. 
On Qatar’s efforts within the framework of the WTO to achieve food security, the minister said Qatar has pursued efforts to enhance and protect its national economic gains in the field of food security and has sought to join the list of net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs) in the World Trade Organisation since 2014.
In March 2016, Qatar submitted an application to the WTO’s Agriculture Committee to join the NFIDCs list, which offers its members with a set of specific guarantees to enhance and protect their food security.
Qatar has joined a WTO informal group, which brings together a number of countries that aim to reduce discriminatory restrictions such as Singapore, Switzerland, Japan and other countries in cooperation with the European Union.
In this context, a joint paper was presented on the issue of export restrictions during the meeting of the WTO’s Agriculture Committee. The paper highlighted the importance of food security to many member states, particularly least developed countries and net food importing countries.
The paper also referred to the restrictions imposed on the export of foodstuff that would affect the food security of importing countries and contribute to higher food prices globally.
Al-Kuwari explained the “unjust blockade imposed on Qatar is one of the most pronounced manifestations of protectionist tendencies that have been adopted by some countries and represent a major challenge not only on the economic level but also on the security level.”
He called for the establishment of a global system that ensures the sustainability of food supplies, especially for countries that depend on imports to secure their needs.
To this end, the minister said Qatar has endeavoured to strengthen cooperation with various parties to develop the international trade system for agricultural products and to enhance collaboration with international organisations with an interest in food security, including Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), G20 and the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS).
During the ministerial meetings of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (COMCEC), Qatar had submitted a proposal to launch a joint initiative aimed at establishing an agricultural commodities exchange for Islamic countries, which would facilitate intertrade.
Qatar looks forward during this summit to prioritise the promotion of agricultural investments in Islamic countries and to encourage joint investments in this sector with a focus on the concept of value chains between neighbouring countries to enhance regional integration.
The minister also urged joint efforts to devise innovative and effective solutions that enhance Islamic countries’ growth prospects to ensure a better future for their people.