19-01-2021
About 68369 transactions were issued by the Chamber last year including 35274 transactions issued online, a share of 52% of the total number of transactions, according to QC General Manager Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi.
He also noted that about 35086 certificates of origin, of which 17637 issued online, a share of 50.3% of the total number of certificates of origin.
In 2020, about 52% of the Chamber’s transactions were implemented online through the website.
The Chamber has achieved significant progress in its electronic services and further developed its technological infrastructure with the aim to streamline services and transactions for its members.
In press statements, Al Sharqi also said that a total of 2189 new member companies joined Qatar Chamber in 2020, taking it total membership to more than 62247.
He pointed out that the Chamber held more than 110 events last year, whether at the Chambers headquarters or through visual communication technology, indicating that it hosted nine commercial delegations,
“During 2020, Qatar Chamber hosted 9 trade and business delegations from several countries, such as Brazil, Turkey, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Mexico and Azerbaijan, and others. These meetings discussed enhancing cooperation between Qatari businessmen and their counterparts in the various countries of the world. They reflected the international interest in the investment climate in Qatar and confidence in the Qatari economy,” he added.
Elaborating the Chamber’s activities last year, Al Sharqi said that it held meetings with foreign officials and representatives of ministries and chambers to help Qatari businessmen learn about the investment opportunities available in these countries, citing it also hosted meetings with officials of concerned authorities in the state to review matters related to the private sector, such as a meeting with the CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) and a meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
The Chamber held about 19 seminars and forums, including Qatar Chamber SMEs Conference, Public-Private Partnership Conference, Qatar-Germany Business Forum, Supporting Local Manufacturers Forum, Qatar-Turkish Business Forum, Qatar-Kuwait Business Forum, a seminar on the joint labour committees, a seminar with officials of QDB to brief the Chamber’s board members on the bank’s strategy in supporting the services exports, a series of workshops to raise the awareness on the services offered by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs and a meeting with officials of the Ministry to review demands and grievances of businessmen regarding amendments to the labour law.
QC General Manager also indicated that the Chamber adopted a number of important initiatives which contributed to encouraging the private sector to perform its role during the pandemic and overcome its negative impacts.
Outlining these initiatives, he said that the Chamber launched the “Takatuf Initiative’ which aimed at enhancing the private sector’s contribution to the State’s efforts to confront the pandemic and motivating large companies to help and support small and medium-sized companies that have been greatly affected by the repercussions of the pandemic.
During 2020, the Chamber was keen on strengthening communication with all concerned authorities in the state to address all issues related to the Qatari business community and the obstacles it faces during the crisis to ensure it plays its anticipated role in the national economy in a way that guarantees the continuity of business and projects, Al Sharqi added.
