‘1,000 Opportunities’ initiative helping local firms to become more competitive: QC chief

In cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar Chamber (QC) held on Wednesday a seminar to inform private sector companies on the ‘1,000 Opportunities’ initiative, which is an electronic platform launched by the MoCI to help local investors to get investment opportunities from major international and local companies operating in Qatar.
The seminar was attended by QC Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani and QC First Vice Chairman Mohamed bin Twar Al Kuwari, as well as a number of Qatari businessmen and representatives of local companies.
On his part, Sheikh Khalifa expressed his thanks to the ministry for its keenness to enable local companies to learn about the initiative, stressing its importance in enhancing the public and private partnership and activating business sectors in the state.
HE said that the ‘1,000 Opportunities Initiative’ offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity to develop their products and services and become more competitive in the Qatari market.
Sheikh Khalifa also said that enhancing the level of competitiveness will be advantageous to stakeholders in the private sector, allowing them to play a larger role in Qatar’s economic activity.
Sheikh Khalifa called upon Qatari investors and businessmen to get acquainted with this vital initiative by visiting the Single Window website to learn about the available opportunities which include all economic sectors.
He underscored that the initiative would contribute to the localization of supply chains and increase the dependence on local products.
The QC chairman also pointed out that the national product has proven efficient in the local market and foreign markets as well, stressing that local products have become more competitive with imported products in terms of price and quality, which contributed to raising the rates of increasing the state’s self-sufficiency.
He lauded the role made by the Ministry to support the local market, especially SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Speaking during the seminar, Hamad Mohammed Al Abdan, Director of the Business Development and Investment Promotion Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, delivered an explained presentation about the initiative, stressing that it aims to stimulate the business sector and provide an attractive environment by localising supply chains, increasing the efficiency of service providers, as well as encouraging, localizing, and transferring knowledge to the national product.
Abdan noted that the initiative is a culmination of a year-and-a-half-year effort with 8 local and foreign major companies operating in the country which include Match Hospitality, McDonald’s, CCC Contracting, Lulu Hypermarket, Americana, Alshaya Group, Power International, and General Electric.
He pointed out that the initiative is available on the Single Window website, noting that local companies can browse it to learn about available opportunities and how to apply for the service.