Italy continues to maintain robust trade relations with Qatar despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas, who noted a growth in the export of a wide range of foodstuffs.
“There has been an increase in the volume of foodstuff exports from Italy to Qatar, Prunas said, citing the quality of Italian food products and the efforts of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Doha, which previously forged an agreement with LuLu Hypermarket for the sourcing of exports from Coldiretti, Italy’s national association of farmers representing 500,000 producers.
Prunas explained that the agreement allows LuLu direct access to high-quality farmers’ produce at lower prices. “This partnership has grown steadily to a point that LuLu has opened a warehouse in Milan, which is expected to be inaugurated next month. This facility will have a positive impact on Qatar-Italy trade relations and it will also play a significant role in increasing Italian food exports to Qatar,” the ambassador further said.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, the overall exchange between Italy and Qatar reached €1.2bn or a 37.5% growth in the first half of 2021, said ITA trade commissioner Giosafat Rigano. “There was a rebound in the economic relations between our two countries. In terms of agri-foods, Italian exports to Qatar amounted to €30mn or a growth of 3%,” he said.
In terms of sectors, Rigano bared that the ITA recorded growth in machinery (45%), furniture (42%), fashion (41%), and agri-food. Underscoring the ITA’s agreement with LuLu, Rigano said LuLu Hypermarket Qatar orders “more than €12mn worth of new Italian food products in a year.”
Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International, commended the partnership with the ITA and the Italian embassy in Doha, saying “this helped promote more trade and led to a Qatari hypermarket company establishing a distribution centre in Milan, Italy.”
“Whatever increment we have recorded from these increase in the items on our shelves has come from totally new categories and products, so that is not a traditional revenue stream,” Althaf stressed.
Earlier, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar launched the ‘Let’s Eatalian Festival’, in cooperation with the ITA, which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Trade Promotion Section of the Italian Embassy in Qatar.
The festival is showcasing a wide range of Italian products, which is highlighting “Italian excellence” in the food sector – from fresh fruits and vegetables to cheeses and dairy products, olive oil to pasta, sauces and salad dressings like balsamic vinegar, canned vegetables, and canned tomato, as well as top-quality Italian rice, confectionery, coffee, biscuits, chocolates, sauces, spices, and condiments, among many others.
Ends
“There has been an increase in the volume of foodstuff exports from Italy to Qatar, Prunas said, citing the quality of Italian food products and the efforts of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Doha, which previously forged an agreement with LuLu Hypermarket for the sourcing of exports from Coldiretti, Italy’s national association of farmers representing 500,000 producers.
Prunas explained that the agreement allows LuLu direct access to high-quality farmers’ produce at lower prices. “This partnership has grown steadily to a point that LuLu has opened a warehouse in Milan, which is expected to be inaugurated next month. This facility will have a positive impact on Qatar-Italy trade relations and it will also play a significant role in increasing Italian food exports to Qatar,” the ambassador further said.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, the overall exchange between Italy and Qatar reached €1.2bn or a 37.5% growth in the first half of 2021, said ITA trade commissioner Giosafat Rigano. “There was a rebound in the economic relations between our two countries. In terms of agri-foods, Italian exports to Qatar amounted to €30mn or a growth of 3%,” he said.
In terms of sectors, Rigano bared that the ITA recorded growth in machinery (45%), furniture (42%), fashion (41%), and agri-food. Underscoring the ITA’s agreement with LuLu, Rigano said LuLu Hypermarket Qatar orders “more than €12mn worth of new Italian food products in a year.”
Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International, commended the partnership with the ITA and the Italian embassy in Doha, saying “this helped promote more trade and led to a Qatari hypermarket company establishing a distribution centre in Milan, Italy.”
“Whatever increment we have recorded from these increase in the items on our shelves has come from totally new categories and products, so that is not a traditional revenue stream,” Althaf stressed.
Earlier, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar launched the ‘Let’s Eatalian Festival’, in cooperation with the ITA, which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Trade Promotion Section of the Italian Embassy in Qatar.
The festival is showcasing a wide range of Italian products, which is highlighting “Italian excellence” in the food sector – from fresh fruits and vegetables to cheeses and dairy products, olive oil to pasta, sauces and salad dressings like balsamic vinegar, canned vegetables, and canned tomato, as well as top-quality Italian rice, confectionery, coffee, biscuits, chocolates, sauces, spices, and condiments, among many others.
Ends
