Qatar attaches great importance to food security, says Al Obaidly

Doha: Qatar Chamber Board Member and Chairperson of its Food Security and Environment Committee Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidly said that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to food security and strives hard to raise the level of self-sufficiency, noting that it has adopted a national vision aiming to achieve self-sufficiency, reduce imports, develop agriculture and food processing, establish logistic warehouses, and open the scope for investment in this vital sector.

This came during the ‘Arab-Hellenic Food Forum’ which was organised by the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development (AHCCD) from  October 5-6 via video conferencing with the participation of representatives from Arab League, Union of Arab Chambers, Qatar chamber, and many Greek officials.

The forum was also attended by a number of representatives from Arab chambers of commerce and private sector institutions. He also noted that Qatar highly welcomes foreign investors who are willing to invest in food security projects and forge partnerships with Qatari businessmen in food processing for local products such as vegetables, dates, dairy products, table egg, poultry, and fish, stressing that this helps in providing surpluses in production, and achieving self-sufficiency throughout the year, as well as reducing food waste in all its stages.

He indicated that Qatar has built a state-of-the-art infrastructure that will attract mega projects in this sector and in food processing and re-export fields as well. Addressing a session titled “Irrigation Technology, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Processing Industries”, Al Obaidli said that the volume of investments in manufacturing foodstuffs in Qatar reached last year QR5bn, registering a growth of 69 percent compared to 2017, while the number of food processing facilities increased by 55 percent last year.

He also said that the beverage sector grew by 22 percent last year compared to 2017, while the number of facilities operating in this sector increased by 40 percent.

The conference aimed at exchanging expertise in food sector and enhancing cooperation between Greece and Arab countries. The event opened with remarks by Rashad Mabger, the Secretary General of AHCCD, and an introduction by Suheil Sabbagh, the Vice President.

The conference’s agenda consisted of six sessions which touched on topics related to agriculture, food industries, fisheries, water resources, and sustainable agriculture. 

It also discussed climate change, food production and halal industry with the participation of a galaxy of professions and senior officials in food manufacturing companies from Arab and Greek parties.