Month: October 2023

Posted on

BIC to host ‘Bahrain Comic Con 2023’

Under the auspices of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) will be hosting the 4th edition of Bahrain Comic Con, the largest pop culture convention in the region, on October 6 and 7, with the support of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).

Thousands of gaming, movie, television show, sci-fi, manga, comics and animation fans will have the chance to get involved with A-lister meets and greets, autograph sessions, comic and anime art galleries, eSports tournaments, cosplay parades, board game rooms, vendor booths and much more, promising a family weekend event full of activities, celebrities, and numerous surprises!

Being the biggest version of all time due to BTEA support, the annually long-awaited convention in the region will attract a distinguished line-up of Hollywood stars, Netflix celebrities and international gaming studio co-stars, featuring guest appearances by Alexander Ludwig, recognised for his portrayal of “Bjorne” in the historical drama series “Vikings”; Ed Westwick, known as Chuck Bass from “Gossip Girl”; Lochlyn Munro, famous for playing Hal Cooper in “Riverdale”; Cooper Andrews, renowned as Jerry from “The Walking Dead”; Carolina Ravassa, the voice behind Reese in “Valorant”; and Karen Fukuhara, known for her role in “The Boys”.

Bahrain Comic Con 2023, which is part of a diverse series of major entertainment events and tourism attractions to be hosted in Bahrain, expects to welcome over 33,000 visitors across the Middle East and beyond, bolstering the Kingdom’s trail in the international pop culture and multi-genre entertainment map.

Commenting, Dr. Nasser Qaedi, the CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), stated: “We are pleased to reinforce our cooperation with Bahrain Comic Con to host the biggest edition this year and become a regional landmark in the pop culture industry. By bringing together a larger prestigious record of movie, TV show, and gaming big names in Bahrain, we are surly confident that Comic Con this year will boost the Kingdom’s profile as a leading regional hub for MICE, leisure, and entertainment tourism. With an even bigger spectacle than its highly successful three versions and the presence of some of the world’s biggest franchises and brands in film, TV, anime and comics, Bahrain will gain further tourism momentum regionally and globally,”

Get ready to secure your tickets for Bahrain Comic Con 2023 today!

You can now easily purchase your passes online through trusted platforms like Virgin, Platinumlist, and SADAD. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity; grab your tickets now and be part of the excitement!

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Posted on

Foreign Minister receives Kuwait Ambassador to Bahrain

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Affairs Minister, met with Shaikh Thamer Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain.

The two sides discussed Bahrain-Kuwait relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Posted on

NIHR visits Hidd Rehabitation Centre for Special Needs

A delegation from the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) visited Hidd Rehabilitation Centre for Special Needs, which is affiliated with UCO Elderly Care.

The delegation was briefed on the centre’s educational and rehabilitative services for people with mental disabilities and Down Syndrome.

They were informed about issues related to equipping educational facilities and classes to encourage people with disabilities to respond effectively, thus contributing to achieving the desired goals towards their integration into society.

The visit is within the framework of the NIHR’s keenness to inspect the care and rehabilitation services and programms provided by these centres, and to examine their commitment to implementing standards related to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Posted on

Forum on Government Procurement 2024 Reviews Around QR 7 Billion Projects in Health Sector

The third day of the form on government procurement 2024 reviewed projects in Qatar’s health sector where four divisions in the sector intend to implement during 2024 with a value of approximately QR 7 billion.

During his presentation regarding the expectations regarding the procurements system in the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and Naufar, HMC assistant executive director of procurement Salem Mohammed Al Marri said that the value of the 1,710 public tenders that the sector intends to launch in 2024 exceeds QR 6.3 billion.

The HMC assistant executive director of procurement added that HMC accounts for 1,107 of these public tenders with a value that reaches QR 5 billion, followed by the Ministry of Public Health with 326 tenders that reach around QR 700 billion, PHCC with 273 tenders with the value of QR 600 million, and Naufar with four tenders.

He also discussed the mechanism followed in dividing the year for procurement operations for some of the strategic projects. He indicated that the health sector procurement system is an advanced organizational and procedural structure that aims to manage and organize purchasing and supply processes efficiently and transparently.

This system also aims to meet the health sector’s needs for materials and services sustainably and effectively. It also includes the processes of selecting qualified suppliers, issuing tenders when necessary, and ensuring the application of the required quality and performance standards.

Al Marri said that through this system, the best possible value is achieved for the financial resources allocated to health care, and ensuring the provision of health services with the highest level of quality to patients and society.

He stressed that Qatar’s health sector aims to provide healthcare services at the highest level of quality. These services include advanced hospitals and health centers as well as programs for scientific research and medical education by directing them toward providing the best health services and adopting the latest technologies and practices in health care that are considered among the leading medical entities in the region, well known for a distinguished and specialized medical team that is always striving to develop and improve health services provided to the local and regional community.

In turn, during a presentation before the forum, the secretary of the committee for supporting the competitiveness of national products and combating practices harmful to them in international trade at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) Jassim Ahmad Al Kuwari highlighted the nature of these practices and the state’s role in supporting the competitiveness of the local industry. He indicated that establishing the committee for supporting the competitiveness of national products and combating practices harmful to them in international trade aims to further protect these products. He also discussed the objectives of the committee and the importance of establishing a committee for supporting the competitiveness of national products, providing explanations on the concept of harmful practices in international trade, non-tariff barriers, dumping, and others.

He said that the MOIC established the committee to support the competitiveness of national products and combat practices harmful to them in international trade to help local factories and confront harmful practices carried out by factories from other countries to expand in the Qatari market at the expense of the local product by offering imported goods at unjust prices to remove the national product from the market and monopolize it.

He added that the committee for supporting the competitiveness of national products was established to support Qatar National Vision 2030, especially those related to supporting local production and combating harmful practices by conducting the necessary investigations after local factories submitted complaints after being exposed to negative or illegal competition from imported products in some form.

He indicated that these harmful practices are divided into three main categories: dumping, increasing imports, and ad hoc support. He explained that to confront every harmful practice, there are preventive measures taken by the committee, represented by anti-dumping measures, including increasing customs duties imposed on the product concerned with dumping, which are either temporary or permanent. (MORE)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Posted on

Forum on Government Procurement 2024 Reviews Around QR 7 Billion Projects in Health Sector -1-

During the first two days of the forum on the government procurement plan for 2024, 116 public tenders to be offered by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) for the year 2024 were presented, with a value of approximately QR 59 billion, in addition to 279 public tenders to be offered by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) for the same year, with a value of approximately QR 8.9 billion.

The forum also highlights the services provided by the Ministry of Finance and the most prominent advantages of the law regulating tenders and auctions and its executive regulations, in addition to identifying local value opportunities and their economic impact, the mechanism and developments of classifying companies and evaluating the performance of companies in implementing government projects.

At the opening of the forum, the Director of the Government Procurement Regulations Department at the Ministry of Finance Nayef Moaid Al Hababi gave a presentation on the general plan for state procurement for the year 2024, during which he indicated that 2,528 tenders are expected to be issued for 2024, distributed among 16 economic sectors, and more than 100 economic activities according to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). Al Hababi indicated that the forum on government procurement plan for 2024 comes within the constant efforts to emphasize the role of the private sector as a critical partner in achieving sustainable development and strengthening the national economy, given the leading role assigned to the private sector in creating job opportunities, stimulating innovation, and providing essential services in the state.

For his part, Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Saif Jassim Al Kuwari addressed framework contracts and their role in supporting local industry, stressing that national industries are at the top of the country’s development priorities as they represent a key pillar in the advancement of the national economy and an important element for achieving the country’s self-sufficiency and building the future of generations to come in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

The State of Qatar, Al Kuwari added, is witnessing a noticeable increase in the number of factories operating in the country, with their number today reaching more than 806 factories. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Posted on

Qatar Airways Unveils its New Expo 2023 Doha Livery Aircraft

Official strategic partner to EXPO 2023 Doha, Qatar Airways, unveiled its A330-300 Airbus aircraft adorned with the Expo 2023 Doha livery, which kicks off on Monday.

The aircraft was unveiled in a ceremony held at Hamad International Airport, in the presence of HE Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport Eng. Badr Al Meer, HE President of Ashghal Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, and Secretary-General of Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha Engr. Mohammed Ali Al Khouri.

This event comes to confirm Qatar Airways’ readiness to host the exceptional and global event and welcome the world again to Doha, as well as to enhance their role in achieving a more sustainable and green future.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive said: “We welcome all countries to Expo 2023 Doha, which represents a continuation of our inspiring journey filled with innovation, collaboration, and pioneering solutions. The arrival of the Expo 2023 Doha aircraft at Hamad International Airport symbolises our commitment to fostering a sustainable and innovative future as enshrined in Qatar’s national vision.” As part of its substantial contribution to Expo 2023, Qatar Airways will feature the “Qatar Airways Garden,” an impressive pavilion highlighting engaging activations designed to illustrate the Expo’s theme of “Green Desert, Better Environment”.

Qatar Airways will also offer an enriched in-flight experience from Oct. 11, featuring curated beverages and an exclusive à la carte menu spotlighting Qatari farm-sourced ingredients, along with Expo-themed in-flight entertainment. This includes a dedicated Expo channel offering over 30 gardening-related shows, ensuring a memorable horticultural experience in-flight.

Expo 2023 Doha, will run from Oct. 2023 to March 2024 at the scenic Al Bidda Park, and is anticipated to draw around three million international visitors. Overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the six-month event will feature a diverse array of experiences including beautiful gardens, enlightening talks, art, cuisine, and a special emphasis on innovative approaches to combat desertification. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Posted on

QCB Starts Receiving License Applications for Insurance Policy Price Comparison Sites

The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) began receiving license applications for insurance policy price comparison sites, open until December 2, in line with the financial sector strategy and the financial technology (Fintech) strategy, and based on QCB’s permanent endeavor to regulate and develop the financial sector in the country and stimulate Fintech innovation.

QCB aims to regulate insurance policy price comparison websites service providers in the country to achieve an appropriate regulatory framework for emerging Fintech companies to develop and improve smart solutions for this service, which has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years.

Insurance policy price comparison sites will provide customers with total flexibility when choosing an insurance policy and making the best decisions before purchasing insurance products by comparing different insurance products in terms of their features and prices in the fastest time, saving customers’ time and effort.

Insurance policy price comparison sites also contribute to enhancing transparency by providing customers access to unbiased information that enables them to choose insurance products that suit the customers’ needs.

QCB stressed its keenness to provide effective and valuable initiatives that help create a suitable environment for tech companies to shape Qatar’s Fintech sector.

The Bank stated that those wishing to provide this service have to submit their applications at (sandbox.qcb.gov.qa), and can also further inquiry via email at (sandboxsupport@qcb.gov.qa). (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Posted on

President of Uzbekistan Meets QCB Governor

HE President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Sunday with HE Governor of the Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani at HE the President’s residence in Doha.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on several topics of common interest, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation relations in relevant fields. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency