The Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, Ivonne A-Baki (left), with Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (centre), and members of Ecuador business delegation and other guests at the event. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peni
DOHA: The visiting delegation of businessmen from Ecuador has found Manateq, the sophisticated logistic area of Qatar, prefect to keep their perishable food products.
“We are trying to connect the Ecuador with this area (Arab region) to boost the trade in food and non-food sector so we are looking for logistic facility for our products specially perishable goods to keep the products fresh,” said Nelson Patricio Baldeon Robalino, Public Relation Officer of the Delegation.
He was speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of a reception at St. Regis Doha Hotel yesterday for the visiting delegation from Ecuador comprising of representatives from 20 private companies for producing foods and non-foods items to meet local businessmen one-to-one to enhance bilateral trade.
The reception “The International Trade Network: Ecuador-Qatar-2018 was attended by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association with a number of prominent Qatari businessmen.
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani and the businessmen were briefed about Ecuadorian food and non-food products showcased at an exhibition organised on the sidelines of the event.
Representatives of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment including Hamad Saket Al Shamari, Assistant Director of the Agricultural Research Department and Yousef Al Khulaifi, Director of Agricultural Affairs Department also attended the event to inform the delegation about the state facilities and technical support to boost bilateral trade relations in agricultural sector.
“We have so many food products like organic agricultural products and shrimp that are needed to be delivered fresh for consumption which require a sophisticated logistic facility therefore we focused to solve this problem first,” said Nelson Patricio Baldeon Robalino.
He said “Today we (the delegation) visited logistics facilities at Manateq which met our expectation, it is an impressive world class logistic as we were explained in detail presentation.”
He added that Ecuador is one of the main exporting countries of banana and shrimp. “We are producing one of the biggest and best quality of shrimp in the world and raw materials (food commodities) like banana, cocoa, chocolate,” said Robalino.
Speaking on transferring technologies in agriculture and fish farming sectors, Robalino, said that Ecuador has very good knowledge in these sector which is very possible to transfer the technology of farming shrimp to Qatar in authorities and local businessmen are interested in doing so adding that the country has advanced technology to produce best quality, faster and cheaper
He said that a delegation comprising with local businessmen under Qatar Chamber is expected to visit Ecuador in June to boost further trade between two countries. Robalino hinted that Qatar Airways could help in setting up direct connection throw air-cargo to boost the bilateral trade relation.
He also described Souq Waqif an amassing tourist place. “Souq Waqif reminded me the Arabian night, it is very is very impressed and I wanted to be here with may family,” said Robalino.
