Doha, October 28 (QNA) - Data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) said the manufacturing sector contributed QR 13.44 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter, bringing its total contribution to QR 26.84 billion in the first half of 2025.

Tuesday's announcement followed the Ministry's third quarterly performance review for 2025, chaired by HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani, and attended by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki, along with Their Excellencies assistant undersecretaries and directors of administrative units.

The statement noted that the meeting discussed key achievements from the third quarter, detailed performance indicators across sectors and administrative units, and existing challenges while exploring proposed solutions to enhance the implementation of plans and programs, thereby improving institutional efficiency and service quality.

Among the notable achievements highlighted was the entry into force of the Qatar–Turkiye economic and trade partnership agreement on August 1, 2025, which has boosted trade exchange and eased investment restrictions.

The Ministry also launched a dedicated digital platform showcasing public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and introduced 20 new e-services covering licensing, market monitoring, competition protection, consumer rights, and anti-commercial fraud.

The third quarter also saw the launch of the "My Companies" service via the single-window mobile application, the rollout of a voluntary review program for mergers and acquisitions, and the Ministry's receipt of the Golden Shield and first place in the 11th Cybersecurity Drill among government entities.

Additional milestones included the integration of land, sea, and air freight activities into a unified commercial registry, the introduction of temporary commercial licensing for service providers in the Sealine area, the updated Industrial Sector Guide, a comprehensive guide for trade name procedures, the convening of the Public–Private Dialogue Forum, strategic partnership enhancement with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and fee exemptions for certain categories related to the issuance or replacement of ration cards.

In the trade affairs sector, performance indicators showed a significant uptick in Q3 2025, with new commercial registrations rising by 81.5 percent compared to Q3 2024.

Active primary and secondary registrations increased by 18.1 percent, while the time required to establish a company was reduced to two days. Active commercial licenses rose by 6.79 percent year-on-year, and 4,631 new non-Qatari companies were established.

The single-window platform added five new e-services in Q3, bringing the total to 13 since the beginning of the year.

The platform processed 72,500 transactions during the quarter, 89 percent of which were submitted electronically. Customer satisfaction with the e-submission service reached 94 percent.

In the industry and business development sector, the manufacturing sector contributed QR 13.44 billion to GDP in Q2, totaling QR 26.84 billion in H1 2025. Additionally, 30 factories were assessed under the Smart Industry Readiness Index in Q3.

Regarding business environment enhancement, the Ministry successfully identified and resolved 35 percent of the challenges facing the private sector. Twelve PPP projects were studied in 2025, three more than in Q2, with four new projects launched and one awarded in Q3.

In the consumer affairs sector, the average number of specialized licenses issued rose by 30.87 percent compared to Q3 2024.

The issuance time for these licenses was reduced to one day. The time required to process price requests for goods and services decreased compared to Q1 and Q2 2025. Beneficiaries of ration services increased by 2.61 percent year-on-year, and the number of fodder distributors surged by 96.9 percent.

The Ministry also discussed safety levels and minimum strategic stock requirements for ration goods and fodder. Over 8,000 consumer complaints were successfully resolved.

The performance report indicated that 73,747 inspections were conducted across all administrative units in Q3 2025, underscoring the Ministry's commitment to enforcing market regulations and enhancing consumer protection.

Concluding the meeting, HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry emphasized the importance of continuing to work with a results-driven and efficient approach, supporting digital transformation, and developing services to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. (QNA)