Doha, April 14 (QNA) - HE 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.

His Excellency 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.

HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry 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 His Excellency, 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.

His Excellency 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 HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

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.

His Excellency 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.

His Excellency 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 HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry, 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 His Excellency.

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, His Excellency 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, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani 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.

His Excellency pointed out that the country relies on diverse global markets for food imports, including Asian countries such as Pakistan, India and Australia, and European countries such as the Netherlands and Ukraine, in addition to cooperation with neighboring countries, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, appreciating their role in supporting supply chains.

His Excellency added that the ministry is working in parallel to enhance local production and self-sufficiency, as the industrial sector includes more than 138 food factories capable of producing more than 700 commodities, with a focus on supporting the import of raw materials and manufacturing locally instead of importing finished products.

He urged the private sector to seize this opportunity to expand in the food industries.

In the context of supporting supplies, His Excellency stressed that Qatar Airways played a pivotal role by operating dedicated cargo flights and investing in commercial flights to transport goods, which contributed to the import of large quantities of goods, reaching around 2,000 tons of vegetables and fruits, more than 1,200 tons of red meat, in addition to around 283 tons of seafood since the beginning of the crisis.

His Excellency noted that the ministry's teams are working in continuous coordination with the national carrier and local and international suppliers to expedite shipping and supply procedures, and ensure the smooth flow of operations and the continued availability of goods.

He commended the efforts of government agencies, transport companies, suppliers and manufacturers, as well as the national logistics sector, including Qatar Navigation (Milaha) and Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC), in supporting supply chains.

Regarding the availability of goods in the local market, His Excellency indicated that the ministry monitors consumption patterns through electronic linking with suppliers and sales outlets, where more than 5,000 products and goods have been tracked and classified into 206 consumer groups, with a focus on 57 main groups according to consumption patterns and stock levels.

His Excellency pointed out that the first day of the crisis witnessed an exceptional increase in purchasing rates, as the consumption of bottled water increased more than 24 times, and milk more than five times, without this affecting the availability of goods or requiring the use of the strategic stock, thanks to prior preparedness and the efficiency of market management.

His Excellency praised the role of local manufacturers who have increased their production capacity, particularly in the areas of water bottling and poultry production, including the expansion of table egg production lines, to enhance self-sufficiency, thanking all workers in the supply chains and the logistics sector.

Concluding his his remarks to QNA, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani affirmed that the ministry continues to monitor the markets to ensure the availability of goods and price stability. He stressed the importance of its role in achieving a balance between consumer protection and preserving the profitability of the private sector.

He urged citizens and residents to act responsibly and not to be swayed by rumors or excessive purchasing practices, while emphasizing that the ministry will not tolerate any practices that harm the market or violate consumer rights. (QNA)