DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce launched a week-long consumer protection awareness programme yesterday at Souq Waqif.
The event ‘Eleventh Gulf Consumer Protection Week’ is being held under the theme ‘One Gulf One Consumer’ in conjunction with similar events organised by consumer protection departments and entities in other GCC states.
The aim of this annual event is to unify the GCC’s efforts to expand the consumer protection umbrella and to reach mutual cooperation, in addition to empowering consumers by providing essential skills and knowledge that make them more aware and conscious of their rights and responsibilities as well as active participants in their consumer rights issues.
Several activities and awareness programmes during the week (from March 1 to March 7) in morning and evening are being held at Souq Waqif.
An exhibiting is also being organised to showcase original and counterfeit goods to educate visitors on how to distinguish between them.
Several consumer awareness lectures will also be held on shopping and consumerism.
The exhibition will introduce “The Market Programme” which aims to educate children on appropriate purchasing and shopping practices and habits.
The ministry will also hold competitions (Questions & Answers) on the services offered by it in the areas of economic affairs, commercial affairs and consumer protection, with the aim of raising the public’s awareness of its role and responsibilities.
The ministry will set up a children’s corner; hand out gifts and souvenirs and coordinate with the owners of globally registered trademarks in order to hold public lectures.
The event is being organised following the resolutions of the Consumer Protection Committees at the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat through celebrating Gulf Consumer Protection Week on March 1 every year.
It also aims to raise consumer awareness in the community and educating the public on the activities and programmes of the Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
There is ongoing cooperation between consumer protection agencies and departments of all the GCC countries, including the exchange of information and data on commodity prices, a prompt exchange of notifications and recalls of faulty goods as well as cooperation in the field of consumer awareness through continuous communication and collaboration.The Peninsula
