'Investment Opportunities' seminar introduces 29 opportunities with a total investment of QR680m

The seminar is organized by the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) in cooperation with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and sponsored by Qatar Intermediate Industries Holding Company.

This was stated by H.E. Dr. Lulwa bint Abdullah al-Misnad, Assistant Secretary General for Industrial Promotion and Investment in GOIC, and added: the seminar aims to supplement the industrial sector with a number of investment opportunities in SMIs. The opportunities that will be introduced will include all necessary data to help sound decision-making in investment; also participants will receive profiles of investment opportunities for which GOIC can prepare feasibility studies.

The participation of experts in the seminar through presenting technical presentations will contribute to introducing the kind of technologies required for the projects in a facilitated manner, besides the fact that the seminar is a good opportunity for meeting different participants such as investors, financiers and agencies working in industrial development and licensing.

Dr. al-Misnad also declared that the seminar agenda includes three work sessions in which 29 investment opportunities in different industrial fields will be presented. The total investment in all proposed opportunities is some QR680m, and creates, in case of implantation, 980 job opportunities. The investment volume of the proposed projects ranges between QR544,000 and QR426m. Also, the internal rate-of-return on capital varies starting from 18% to reach 36%; while workforce ranges between 7 and 135 workers.

In the same press communiqué, Dr. al-Misnad noted to the role played by the private sector in the State of Qatar in the industrial field, especially in SMIs sector, indicating that the number of SMEs in Qatar was 506 enterprises in 2007, thus representing 91% of the total number of industrial enterprises, and investin463.5m million, i.e. 3.9% of the total industrial investments in the state. Workforce in those enterprises is 21,045 workers, thus representing 63.2% of the total workforce in the industrial sector.

It is worth mentioning that GOIC presented in 34 seminars over 370 investment opportunities, amongst them are the opportunities that will be presented in the coming seminar in Doha, which comes within the activities of investment opportunities program adopted by GOIC since 1987.

The process of opportunities selection is subject to a number of criteria such as relying on advanced techniques and modern production methods; together with being industrially experimented, and feasibility-proved. Also attention to environmental concern is taken into consideration in terms of not using hazardous materials or producing harmful residues.

Also they should not be labor-intensive but rather rely on skilled labor; suit the needs and requirements of Gulf industry; and depend on raw materials and other production inputs available in the region. In addition, there is the willingness of owners to transfer of technology and training of technical personnel necessary to operate; as well as their desire to establish joint ventures with Gulf investors.