Doha, October 20 (QNA) - Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Buhashim Al Sayed, has affirmed that supporting the competitiveness of national products represents a fundamental pillar of the state's strategy to achieve economic growth and diversify sources of income, in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Dr. Al Buhashim explained, in his speech at the opening session of the Government Procurement Plan Forum for 2026, organized by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with several government departments, that the Ministry is implementing a package of initiatives and policies aimed at enhancing the position of Qatari products in local, regional, and international markets.

These initiatives include the "National Product Week" initiative, where sales outlets recorded a significant 75 percent increase in sales of national products during its previous session, reflecting the growing demand for local industries.

The Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the Ministry has launched a dedicated website for national products, aiming to facilitate factories obtaining the "Qatari Product" logo, which contributes to enhancing consumer confidence and raising the competitiveness of national products.

In the context of industrial growth, Dr. Al Buhashim revealed significant growth in recent years, with the number of national factories reaching 965, while the number of national products rose to 2,017, concentrated in vital sectors including metals, food products, rubber and plastics, and chemicals.

He added that this growth reflects the national industrial sector's ability to compete and contribute effectively to the national economy.

He noted that the Ministry, through the "Qatar National Strategy for Manufacturing Industries," is implementing more than 15 major initiatives and 60 development projects.

These projects aim to raise the added value of the manufacturing industry to QR 70.5 billion, increase non-hydrocarbon exports to more than QR 49 billion, and boost annual investment in the sector to QR 2.75 billion, while diversifying investments by 49 percent and increasing the private sector's contribution to added value to 35.6 percent.

In the field of government procurement, Dr. Al Buhashim emphasized that the Ministry supports national products by prioritizing value-added local content, implementing the mandatory national product list, and encouraging their use in humanitarian and development projects, with a focus on quality and international standards.

Dr. Al Buhashim concluded his speech by emphasizing the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's commitment to supporting national companies, enhancing their competitiveness, and creating a fair and transparent business environment.

This will contribute to building a strong and sustainable national economy capable of innovation and facing future challenges. (QNA)