Doha, September 29 (QNA) - The State of Qatar is participating in the inaugural edition of the "Made in GCC 2026" Forum and Exhibition, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from Oct. 6 to 8.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar will participate through its national pavilion alongside several entities supporting the industrial sector, including Qatar Development Bank and Manateq, the economic zones company, as well as more than 20 national manufacturers. The participation reflects the diversity of Qatar's industrial sector and will help showcase Qatari products and industries.
The statement said the participation is part of Qatar's efforts to strengthen industrial cooperation and integration among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, exchange expertise in developing manufacturing capabilities and adopting advanced technologies, and explore opportunities for integration across Gulf value chains, particularly in priority industrial sectors, including aluminum, plastics, cables, glass, pharmaceuticals, food products and engineering industries. Such integration will enable member states to capitalize on their comparative advantages.
The participation also aims to promote national products and enhance their competitiveness in regional and international markets, while encouraging the private sector to expand its contribution to industrial development. These efforts support economic diversification and sustainable development and align with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The pavilion will showcase a number of industrial investment opportunities, particularly in specialized industrial clusters and value-added manufacturing, while highlighting the production and technological capabilities of Qatari factories and the country's investment environment.
The forum and exhibition will provide a platform for building new industrial partnerships amid the continued development of Qatar's production and export capabilities. According to second-quarter 2026 indicators, cumulative investment in the industrial sector reached QR 248.44 billion. During the same quarter, 11 new factories began production, bringing the total number of factories that started production in the first half of the year to 28, with investments totaling QR 253 million.
The share of exporting factories rose from 23 percent in the first quarter to 25 percent in the second quarter, while private-sector exports grew by 12.5 percent.
The number of national products also increased by 8 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period in 2025, expanding the range of products that can be promoted through the event and supporting opportunities to connect with buyers and distributors and reach new markets. (QNA)