This wasn’t the first time that Omanis came across Qatar’s industrial products. It was one of many previous dealings through bilateral exhibitions held in both Muscat and Doha in the past few years as well as GCC and other exhibitions held from time to time. However, this time the circumstances have been different.
Everyone was praising the number, quality and sizes of factories established in Qatar in the past years as part of the facilities and incentives offered by Qatari entities to investors, industries and entrepreneurs who were able to set up these small and medium-sized industrial enterprises within a short period of time.
A glance at Qatar’s industrial models showcased at the ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition held recently at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre tells us about the high quality of Qatari products, whether it is foodstuff, cement, cotton, petroleum or others.
Qatar’s Industry Exhibition was launched under the auspices of Yahya bin Said al Jabri, CEO of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development — Chairman of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, with Ali bin Ahmed al Kawari, Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry, and a delegation of top officials from the chambers of commerce and industry of both countries as chief guests.
The expo, which ran for four days, saw industries in multiple disciplines. This is proof that besides diligently pursuing industrial and productive processes, Qatar has also been able to positively utilise its energy sector by turning oil and gas into several new industries, such as pharmaceuticals.
Other industries are also receiving attention in Qatar, including steel, iron, wood, plastic and food products.
During a visit to the exhibition on the second day, I saw a long queue of young Omani businessmen, entrepreneurs and industrialists — both men and women — at the reception to get their entry cards and get acquainted with Qatari products. This indicated the Omani people’s keen interest in GCC products in general and Qatari products in particular.
The exhibition was an opportunity for Omani and Qatari businessmen to meet and discuss investment opportunities, especially since it was the second of its kind organised by Qatar in Muscat in the past few years, thus consolidating the ties to establish investment and commercial projects that serve future development trends of the two countries.
The event highlighted the success of Qatar’s vision of supporting its national industries and promoting the national products in local and foreign markets so that everyone in the region is aware of the progress and advancement achieved by the Qatari industrial sector.
Most of Qatar’s industries that took part in Muscat expo are vital for both local production and export abroad. Through contracts signed between Omani and Qatari businessmen, further cooperation will be enhanced in the fields of import and export in the coming years, supported through bilateral partnerships and agreements.
Holding the ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition and selecting modern booths for participating companies based on Qatari designs is proof of the curators’ efforts in organising this event, along with showcasing a variety of industries for the first time.
Through the exhibition, Omanis have identified products of 240 Qatari companies operating in five important sectors. These industries are today a pillar of Qatari economy, reducing dependence on external imports, especially in times of crisis.
Omani-Qatari partnership has been long-standing, witnessing major leaps in the 1980s, especially in economic disciplines, upon the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981.
In the past five decades, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries, leading to strong cooperation in commercial, economic, industrial, cultural, sports and artistic fields.
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