The number of factories operating in Qatar has reached 915 in 2020, a 17% increase compared to 2017, an official of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) reported during a virtual forum on Tuesday.
“Qatar’s focus on encouraging the growth of local industries and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and increasing its contribution in the implementation and development of several economic projects has reflected positively on the industrial sector,” said Mohamed Hassan al-Malki, assistant undersecretary for Industry Affairs at MoCI, during the "Supporting Local Manufacturers Forum".
It was organised by Public Works Authority (Ashghal), in collaboration with Qatar Chamber, and was held in the presence of HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, as well as Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president, Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, and other officials and local companies.
The forum was part of MoCI’s efforts to support local industries and enhance the competitiveness of local products on national, regional and international levels. It offered the opportunity for the private sector and local manufacturers to actively participate in government initiatives, especially Ashghal’s projects, which include the development of schools and health institutions, in addition to highways, infrastructure, sewerage and storm water drainage networks, treatment plants, and beautification projects.
During the forum, the minister lauded Qatar Chamber and Ashghal for organising the forum, and stressed its significant role in highlighting the promising investment opportunities that the state offers to local manufacturers in all sectors, especially in construction, which has witnessed a significant expansion in recent years in light of the development projects related to the achievement of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup projects.
In his speech, al-Malki said MoCI has worked with Ashghal in the preparation of the forum to determine targeted sectors, which include construction, minerals, chemicals, rubber, electrical equipment, machines, and transportation equipment.
He added that more than 100 factories will benefit from the forum, pointing out that MoCI is currently working on organising similar events with other government agencies, and has held workshops with Qatar Airways, in co-operation with QDB to enhance the ability of local manufacturers to fulfil the needs of the national carrier.
Al-Malki said MoCI is keen to support local products through the establishment of the National Products Competitiveness Support Department, which specialises in combating harmful practices against local products, and suggesting needed procedures and price pledges to maintain competitiveness in accordance with the law on supporting the competitiveness of national products at the international level.
This law aims at encouraging industrial facilities to provide high-quality local products that are able to compete with imported products, with prices that match the needs of local market, al-Malki said.
He said the National Products Competitiveness Support Department has organised a number of meetings with the different ministries, as well as government and semi-government agencies to enhance the competitiveness of national products by supporting their quality, in line with the specifications and standards determined by the recently launched "Qatar Quality Mark" system, and by determining the available opportunities in the tenders offered by government agencies to Qatari products.
In a presentation, Abdulbasit al-Ajji, director of the Supporting National Product Competitiveness Department at MoCI, said the ministry is supporting and enabling local industries by communicating with government and semi-government authorities to support and enable local products, and to help them overcome difficulties that face local manufacturers and factories.
