DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Eid Charity has launched a new initiative, Al Baraka (Blessing), that aims to involve companies and businesses in local charity projects.
The initiative seeks to raise QR36m during Ramadan by encouraging companies to donate a percentage of their profits to Eid Charity to be spent on charity projects inside Qatar. The projects include providing aid to families in need, funding of community training programs, distribution of meals to workers and families, and contributing to the treatment of low-income patients.
Al Baraka is the fourth in a series of initiatives launched by the ministry to mark the holy month of Ramadan under the theme “#Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb”, meaning “#the_least_we_can _do” in Arabic.
The Al Baraka endowment fund will be established under the supervision of Eid Charity which aims to collect QR36m in donations.
Nawaf Abdullah Al Hammadi, Eid Charity Executive Manager of Resources Development and Media, said yesterday that more than 20 companies have already expressed their interest to join the initiative. The drive will continue even after Ramadan.
“This is an initiative open to everyone in the business sector, without any specific time limit. We have tied up with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce because it is responsible for trade and business and as a continuation of our partnership with the ministry,” Al Hammadi told The Peninsula yesterday.
“Over the past 20 years of Eid Charity, most of the donations were from individuals. So we have decided to address the companies and businesses directly to get them involved in charity work,” he added.
“We aim to raise QR36m in the initial phase and will go the next phases. Companies are free to decide the amount that they are intending to donate, whether it be one-day revenue or one-month revenue,” said Al Hammadi.
Tariq Abdul Aziz Al Sada, Director of Public Relations and Communications at Ministry of Economy and Commerce, said: “Through this initiative, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce aims to encourage companies to contribute to community development and actively support sustainable programs which benefit the society and Qatar. The success of companies is no longer measured by their profitability alone, but also by their contribution to community development as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.”
The ministry, along with Eid Charity had urged all companies to participate in the initiative. They may fill in the online application available on Eid Charity’s website, or visit the headquarters of the Charity where they can make their donations with the Human Resources department and then obtain a certificate of registration for Al Baraka.
The ministry said will soon launch the “Iktisadi” bank card campaign and another campaign to bolster the productivity of bakeries and regulate gold and jewellery businesses, as part of its Ramadan campaign. It will also intensify its inspection campaigns to monitor markets and business activities during Ramadan.
The ministry has invited the public to follow its various accounts on social media platforms including Instagram, snapchat and YouTube under the name MEC_QATAR and to subscribe to its WatsApp account on the number: 66111400
The Peninsula
