'Made in Qatar 2020' expo to open in Kuwait

Over 200 Qatari small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expected to participate at the third edition of Made in Qatar exhibition being held outside Qatar, which will open at a 10,000 sqm area at the Kuwait International Fair from February 19-22, Qatar Chamber (QC) announced at a press conference yesterday.

The expo, which is organised by the QC in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aims to promote Qatari products abroad after they were promoted locally and have proven great success in the local market.

The expo will feature Qatari industry and the country’s developments and technologies in various sectors including petrochemicals, food products, SMEs, and furniture.

In this regard, the QC and QDB signed a strategic partnership agreement and named QDB as the strategic partner of ‘Made in Qatar 2020’. The agreement which was signed in the presence of QC Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, was facilitated by QC Board Member and Chair of Industry Committee Rashid bin Nasser Al Kaabi and QDB Executive Director of Business Finance Khalid Abdulla Al Mana.

Addressing the media at the QC headquarters, Sheikh Khalifa said Kuwait was chosen as a venue for the third outside edition of the expo due to the fraternal relations between both countries at all fields and the fast-growing commercial relations between their private sectors.

He added that bilateral trade between Qatar and Kuwait reached QR1.5bn during the first half of 2019, and the event also aims to strengthen trade relations between Qatari manufacturers and businessmen and their counterparts from Kuwait to increase the trade volume between both countries.

The expo will also highlight the significant developments in Qatar’s industrial sector which developed rapidly since the blockade was imposed on the country, Sheikh Khalifa added.

He said: “During the siege, the number of factories has increased to 800 factories and the number of projects that started production reached 116 projects. The great support of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the expo since its inception in 2009 affirms the Amir’s interest in promoting the local products locally and globally. The Amir’s support presents a strong motive for the Chamber to exert extra efforts for the development of the industrial sector and achieving the desired industrial boom”.

Sheikh Khalifa also pointed out that the Made in Qatar expo has achieved great success during its seven previous editions, which included five editions held in Qatar and two abroad.

During the four-day expo in Kuwait, a Qatari-Kuwaiti Business Forum will also be held on the sidelines of the exhibition to review ways of enhancing commercial relations and discuss investment opportunities for business owners from both countries. The forum will also open doors for the establishment of alliances and commercial deals between Qatari companies and their Kuwaiti counterparts.

Also speaking during the event, Al Mana said the expo serves as a marketing tool in promoting Qatari industry and products. He also reiterated the government’s efforts in developing the country’s industrial sector in line with Qatar’s strategy to achieve economic diversification.

He added: “The expo represents a forum that gathers Qatari companies and factories under one umbrella to offer an opportunity for manufacturers and businessmen to get acquainted with the Qatari industry and its advantages, and explore what new industries the local market needs”.

According to QC Director General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, around 180 companies have already confirmed their participation at the expo. He added that the number of Qatari exhibitors is expected to reach more than 220 companies and factories, with 20 percent of the exhibitors participating for the first time.