Qatar has stocks of food and other consumer goods which is enough for next 12 months, said Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC), Shiekh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani. There will be no shortage of food items and other materials as over 95 percent of Qatari imports come through the air and sea, he added.
QC held a meeting which was attended by more than 40 major food supplies importer companies.
The meeting has come as part of the Qatar Chamber’s efforts to facilitate any procedures related to food consumer goods in light of the latest development of severance of ties with neighbouring countries and border closure. The meeting resulted in formation of a joint committee from the representatives of the major food importing companies and QC.
“The recent development has required the importers of food supplies from these three countries to sign contracts with other suppliers,” said QC yesterday in a press statement.
The meeting discussed the alternative sources for the importers, as many of these importers have already signed agreements with other partners to ensure flow of food consumer goods. Attendees assured that they have enough strategic stock of food stuff and they have variety of sources, and the local market will not be affected and they are ready to put all their stocks under the State.
Food items are available enough in the market and there is no shortage, and the impact of this development will be negative for traders of those counties which have lost the Qatari market, while the Qatari importers have many other alternatives.
QC said that it is going to facilitate any difficulties being faced by importers in collaboration with the competent authorities.
Shiekh Khalifa, Chairman of QC, expressed his regrets for the steps taken by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to sever their ties with Qatar and close their borders and air space. Over 95 percent of Qatari imports come through the air and sea, and the Qatari private sector has contracts with suppliers in many countries and able to provide with the needs in competitive prices, Sheikh Khalifa said, adding that the losers were the exporters in the above mentioned three countries.