Minister of Energy and Industry: "Made in Qatar" Supports Development Efforts to Achieve Balanced Economic Growth

Doha, November 11 (QNA) - HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada has praised the cooperation between the Ministry and the Qatar Chamber to organize the "Made in Qatar" 2017 Exhibition, which is being held under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani, from December 14 to 17, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, with participation of more than 300 Qatari industrial companies. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry said in a press statement today that the objectives of the Made in Qatar exhibition are in line with the State's efforts to achieve promising industrial development through developing and supporting of the industrial sector and increasing the value added of intermediates in order to achieve a balanced economic growth and encourage the private sector to increase its contribution in industrial development, as well as to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector in the GDP of the State. HE the Minister stressed that the current version of "Made in Qatar" is particularly important for its existence under the unjust siege imposed on the State of Qatar and the State's endeavor to achieve self-sufficiency of vital commodities by highlighting and supporting local products. He appreciated the response of local industrialists and their immediate response to the needs of the market through doubling production. HE the Minister expressed hope that the exhibition will achieve more success during its current round, which is held in the midst of the State celebrations of the National Day. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry also praised the directives of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al -Thani, in which he urged all ministries and government departments to increase the percentage of local products from 30% to 100% if the local product complies with the approved national standards, in accordance with the regulations and policies of tenders and auctions committees in the State. He stressed that these directives will increase the definition of the national product and urged investors to inject more investments in the industrial sector, especially small and medium industries, and to build a strong industrial production base, away from the import of industrial goods. For his part, Chairman of Qatar Chamber HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al -Thani commended the cooperation of the Ministry of Energy and Industry with the Chamber in organizing the Made in Qatar 2017 exhibition, noting that this cooperation reflects the real partnership between the public and private sectors. He also praised the support provided by the Ministry of Energy and Industry to the local industry as well as the facilities granted to investors in the industrial sector, and the creation of an appropriate investment environment to stimulate the private sector to invest in industrial activities through the issuance of legislative tools that encourage participation and contribution to the overall development. He said that the exhibition is based on the Qatar National Vision 2030, the most important of which is the diversification of sources of income, adding that the exhibition aims at promoting the industry and the Qatari products locally and globally as well as encouraging the use of Qatari products, reducing dependence on imports, supporting the State's efforts for developing the industry, besides encouraging investors and business owners to invest in industrial projects, especially the small and medium industries with added value to the Qatari economy.(QNA)