‘Made in Qatar’ to open Oman expo in November

DOHA: The second edition of ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition to be held outside Qatar, will open in Muscat, the capital city of Oman, during November 5-9, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Industry and Qatar Development Bank.

Qatar Chamber yesterday announced that the exhibition, which will be held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, will see the participation of about 200 Qatari companies.

Qatar Chamber and Qatar Development Bank also signed a strategic partnership agreement, yesterday to organize ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition this year. It was signed by Qatar Chamber’s Director General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi and Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank.

Speaking at the media yesterday, Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari (right), Qatar Chamber Vice-Chairmansaid that ‘Made in Qatar’ in its next edition aims to open new channels of communication between Qatari companies and their Omani counterpart.

“It also aims at exchanging experiences with Omani companies in the industrial sectors as well as at introducing the Omani society to the Qatari product and opening up new foreign markets to Qatari companies in its various large and small industries, reported QNA.

He stressed that ‘Made in Qatar’ has been able to achieve great successes during the previous editions, especially the last edition, which was held in December last year, and saw the participation of 320 Qatari companies factories, along with 140 owners of household handicrafts.

He called on all industrial sectors; heavy or small or medium industries, food, petrochemical and furniture to participate in the exhibition, adding that the QC will provide free exhibition space for participants and will provide all necessary support.

Al Kuwari pointed out that the industrial sector in Qatar has witnessed an unprecedented boom following the unjust siege imposed on the country. The private sector has been able to boost its investments and expand its activities in the field of manufacturing, he added.

In response to a question on the choosing Oman as a venue, Al Kuwari noted that strong economic relations between the private sectors in both countries was among the main reason for choosing to hold the exhibition in Oman.

He said the balance of trade between the two countries has made successive leaps in a short period, adding that Qatari business owners are also interested in exploring investment opportunities in the industrial sectors in Oman.

He pointed out that future editions of ‘Made in Qatar’ will be held in other countries such as Kuwait, Turkey and some Arab Maghreb countries.

CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB) Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa said that the upcoming edition of ‘Made in Qatar’ would enhace cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman, underlining the importance of the exhibition in acquainting Omani consumers and companies with the Qatari products and industries as well as the learning about that needs of the Omani market and exploring feasible opportunities in it.

He added that the exhibition in its next session in the Sultanate of Oman will represent a major economic forum that brings together Qatari companies from all industrial and productive sectors and businessmen from all countries in order to extend channels of communication and exploring future cooperation in various fields of trade.

Al Khalifa explained that the ‘Made in Qatar’ this year is an opportunity for the private sector in Qatar to activate its external role and give greater momentum to the growing economic process witnessed by the State of Qatar, as focus during this edition of the exhibition will be on the Omani market and the broad prospects for different Qatari industries.

The CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB) valued the strategic partnership between the two parties at Made in Qatar since its inception in 2009, stressing the Bank’s keenness to strengthen and support the Qatari industries through its efforts to develop the Qatari private sector and stimulate entrepreneurs.

This is the second time for Made in Qatar to be held outside the State of Qatar.

The first was in Saudi Arabia in 2016. Made in Qatar is considered as a forum that brings together all Qatari companies and factories under one umbrella and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to meet with business owners and investors to learn about Qatari industries and their advantages, as well as explore what the Qatari market needs from new industries