Doha [Qatar], April 15: Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani affirmed that Qatar's food reserves are in an excellent and stable condition.
The minister attributed this to an integrated institutional system and proactive planning that began in 2019, with the issuance of to Law No. (24) of 2019 on Regulating and Managing the Strategic Stock of Food and Consumer Goods, implemented in line with the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The minister told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that Qatar's strategic stock was created to face various geopolitical challenges and contribute to price stability, even under exceptional global conditions, such as the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on wheat prices, or natural disasters like drought seasons and fires in Asia, and their effects on crops and rising prices, in addition to other emergency crises.
Food supplies are safe and stable and the strategic stock is at sufficient levels, having been boosted during the crisis, said the minister, noting that there has not been a need to use it so far.
He pointed out that work is underway to enhance food reserves according to flexible plans and a proactive approach.
He said that a situation room was activated to monitor and manage the strategic stock, in addition to having field and logistic teams working around the clock to track the market and intervene immediately whenever any challenges affect supply chains.
Relevant entities are coordinating to ensure swift procedures and the smooth flow of goods by facilitating import requirements, said the minister. Efforts are not limited to maintaining stock levels rather extend to strengthening them and ensuring their sustainability, using artificial intelligence systems to anticipate future changes and make well-informed decisions in a timely manner.
Early on, the state had developed comprehensive crisis response strategies with clear risk scenarios in mind, such as the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz or disruptions in major shipping routes in order to ensure the highest levels of readiness, he said.
He highlighted that there is a comprehensive system in place of alternative and effective plans that respond to various possible scenarios, including activating multiple alternative air, sea, and land cargo routes, each of which is capable of meeting Qatar's needs on its own.
This also covers managing distribution and restocking operations, ensuring smooth supply chains, and coordinating in advance with international suppliers while diversifying sources to enhance response flexibility.
He further explained that the ministry adopts a comprehensive package of measures to control prices, including intensifying field monitoring and conducting extensive inspection campaigns through an integrated electronic system, with the participation of inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Municipality, averaging around 2,500 inspection orders daily. This is in addition to applying a clear pricing system for essential goods according to specific regulatory frameworks.
The prices of some goods have been impacted under current conditions due to rising global shipping and production costs in countries of origin, linked to global oil prices and the resulting inflation, said the minister, who added that this is a limited and temporary increase that is expected to subside as conditions improve.
For that reason, the state has sought to mitigate these effects by supporting shipping costs to maintain price stability, he added, calling on the public to report any observations and stressing the importance of community partnership in monitoring markets.
The Ministries of Commerce and Industry, and Municipality carry out inspection campaigns covering various commercial activities, focusing on ensuring the availability of food products, compliance with prices, and preventing monopolistic or misleading practices, said the minister. These campaigns not only address violations but also monitor any potential shortages and provide support to retail outlets to ensure continuity of supplies.
He noted that the campaigns resulted in identifying limited violations, such as failure to display prices or unjustified price increases, which were dealt with immediately through legal measures and the closure of violating establishments. Violations were recorded against 92 commercial establishments, with two establishments shut down, while the vast majority complied with the laws.
Safeguarding consumer interests and market stability, he affirmed that the ministry continues to monitor inspection and tracking operations through its operations center, expressing thanks to all companies for their commitment and cooperation.
Regarding ensuring the flow of food commodities, the minister indicated that the ministry is working on the continuity of supply chains through continuous coordination with government agencies and the private sector, facilitating logistical procedures at ports and entry points, accelerating clearance and release of goods, in addition to daily monitoring of inventory levels and updating emergency plans.
Source: Qatar Tribune
