Apart from boosting visitor arrivals, the recently concluded inaugural Shop Qatar Festival organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) succeeded in energising the retail sector and providing platform to local entrepreneurs, said officials. The month-long shopping festival provided exposure to 42 small businesses which showcased locally made products through 30 pop-up shops spread across five of the participating malls.
Saleh Al Sharqi, Director General of Qatar Chamber, said: “The festival’s support for young Qatari entrepreneurs has offered a platform to showcase their products, in addition to incentivising new entrepreneurs to enter the retail sector.”
“Shop Qatar has greatly contributed to energising the country’s economic activity, particularly in the retail sector, as well as boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors,” added Al Sharqi.
“Qatar Development Bank is delighted to support QTA during the very first edition of Shop Qatar. Together, we have provided an opportunity for Qatari entrepreneurs to showcase a diverse range of local products to consumers across the country. Our cooperation with QTA is in line with our larger organisational mission of developing Qatari small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through facilitating their access to local, regional and global markets,” said Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank.
He continued: “The opportunity has played an important role in empowering them and their businesses further, which in turn will help us build a diversified and knowledge-based economy, as envisioned in the Qatar National Vision 2030."
In addition to the pop-up shops, Shop Qatar also supported five SMEs engaged in the food sector under The Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (Bedaya Center) at weekend outdoor activities.
Reem Al Sowaidi, General Manager of Bedaya Center, said, “At Bedaya Center, we supported Shop Qatar by participating through ‘Bazar Maqtoora’ which allocated temporary shops with the objective of supporting local talents and local small startup businesses; and to encourage young Qataris to enter the market by giving them the appropriate platform to promote and develop their businesses.”
She added, “This work becomes even more important as the State makes a concerted effort to prepare more SMEs to be part of diversifying the national economy and realising Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The festival’s retail partners also lauded the success of the event in positioning the country as a shopping destination.
“Shop Qatar has brought about an excellent opportunity for the retail sector to work together and highlight Qatar as a vibrant shopping destination. As a Mall dedicated to delivering the best family entertainment, we were thrilled to host all Shop Qatar raffles at Mall of Qatar and showcase our prowess as a regional family destination,” said Ahmed Al Mulla, CEO of Mall of Qatar.
The newly opened Mall of Qatar hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, free live concerts and the largest number of pop-up shops. “As a regional mall vested in encouraging tourism in Qatar, we look forward to working with Qatar Tourism Authority to further economic development as an essential part of Qatar National Vision 2030,” added Al Mulla.
