Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) on Sunday launched the “National Product Week” to raise awareness of the importance of national industries and encourage consumers to support national products, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
According to Qatar News Agency, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development at MOCI, Saleh Majid Al Khulaifi, stated that “National Product Week” is one of the significant initiatives to support national industry, as it highlights the quality of Qatari products and enhances their competitiveness in local and regional markets. This event reflects MOCI’s commitment to supporting the industrial sector, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Al Khulaifi further explained that “National Product Week” serves as an occasion to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors, allowing local companies to showcase their products and highlight their competitive potential. The event underscores the achievements made in various industries, strengthening the national economy and increasing the competitiveness of local products, especially in the manufacturing sector.
The Assistant Undersecretary also mentioned that through its manufacturing industries strategy, the ministry is implementing 15 major initiatives, encompassing over 60 developmental projects, with the goal of improving the efficiency of the industrial sector and increasing investment. The strategy aims to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to the national economy, increase the value of non-hydrocarbon exports, and improve Qatar’s ranking in the Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) index.
Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at MOCI, Dr. Mohamad Ahmad Al Sayed, stated that the ministry seeks to enhance the ability of local companies and manufacturers to compete, contributing to economic sustainability. The initiative has achieved positive results in recent years, with retail outlets recording a 75 percent increase in sales of national products during the previous edition.
Dr. Al Sayed added that MOCI launched a National Product web page on the ministry’s website, allowing local factories to request the Qatari Product logo, a symbol of consumer trust, thereby enhancing the position of local products in the market. The page also offers a platform for filing complaints related to harmful international trade practices and industrial constraints, fostering a fair, competitive environment that promotes national production sustainability.
Dr. Al Sayed highlighted the noticeable growth in the number of national products and factories in recent years. The number of national products increased from 1,727 in 2023 to 1,814 in 2024, reaching 1,815 products thus far this year. The industrial sector saw growth in the number of factories as well, with an increase from 58 factories in 2023 to a total of 929 factories, followed by an additional 64 factories in 2024, bringing the total to 993 factories, with one more factory registered this year, totaling 994 factories.
The launching ceremony, attended by several government body and private sector representatives, featured a presentation about the national product, along with specialized workshops, including one on combating harmful trade practices presented by MOCI and a project development services workshop by Qatar Development Bank.
Through this event, MOCI continues its efforts to support and empower the private sector, build trust in the national product, and encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and expand in both local and global markets.