GOIC and KAHRAMA conduct industrial technical assistance seminar for SMIs

The seminar was intended to discuss the results of the industrial audit which GOIC performed on a number of SMIs in the State of Qatar. The event attracted a number of interested parties and individuals from both the private and public sectors held yesterday at GOIC's headquarters, Doha.

The seminar was initiated by a word for H.E. Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al Mutawa, GOIC's Secretary General, followed by Engineer Ahmed Al Muhanadi, Customers' Services Department Manager in KAHRAMAA, and Engineer Said Mubarak Al- Kuwari, Industrial Development Department Manager.

During the seminar, there was a brief on the consultancies' services which the ITA-GOIC (Industrial Technical Assistance Program) offers to small and medium industries (SMIs) within the GCC member states. It also provided an idea about the current project which GOIC is implementing after its agreement with The Ministry of Energy and Industry which entails conducting a training course on industrial auditing; as well as an Actual industrial Auditing of five factories in the State of Qatar.

The resulted report indicated that there is a possibility to save about 30% of energy, 35 - 40% of water consumption, and will save -in case of implementation- around 20% of losses, contribute in increasing waste recycling with 20%, and increase productivity to around 25% more. In addition, this awareness seminar discussed issues relating to water, energy and pricing policies alongside pollution and waste management. The seminar concluded with an open discussion session followed by the recommendations.

During his speech, H.E. Dr. Al Mutawa said,

"This project is the basic step towards assisting small and medium-size industries in improving their efficiency, and increasing their productivity through industrial audit as a first step, and this should be followed by continuity in providing consultancy services and helping them in financing their needs in terms of the equipments and services they need during the coming stage so as to achieve the maximum benefit from this industrial audit results."

In terms of attendees, a large number of representatives of many parties attended including the Ministry of Energy and Industry, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves, Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), further to a number of owners and managers of SMIs, and The Friends of the Environment Center.

The GOIC, founded in 1976, targets developing industries throughout the GCC by means of providing, both the industrial and economic sectors, with distinctive knowledge, consultancy and technical services. GOIC 's mandate is to promote the highest levels of industrial cooperation and collaboration, in both the public and private sectors, by providing a complete set of high-quality, specialized research, information and consultancy services.