Thriving business • Chapter summary
The blockade implemented against Qatar in 2017 meant that it was no longer able to import much of the foodstuffs it had come to rely on. However, the country was quick to react and establish new supply chains and projects, with food security becoming one of the most important items on the government’s agenda. In fact, only two years later, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2019 placed Qatar as the number-one nation for food security among the 15 Middle Eastern and North African countries.
One of the first steps taken by the government was to establish the Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023, which was aimed at improving international trade and logistics and increasing domestic self-sufficiency and strategic reserves, all while increasing the food output capacity of the local market. Despite the end of the blockade, Qatar is likely to continue on its path of building on its agribusiness industry as part of the efforts being made toward Qatar National Vision 2030.
Despite Qatar’s unfavorable environment for agribusiness, heavy investments and topnotch technology have allowed local producers to thrive and meet the demands of widely consumed products such as poultry, milk, and vegetables.
One prominent example is that of Baladna Food Industries, which achieved basic dairy products self-sufficiency in 2019 and is planning to increase its offering. And in time, it even hopes to reach regional markets. Its model includes an agriculture farm, a cattle farm, and production facilities.
Discussing the potential of Made in Qatar products, Malcolm Jordan, CEO of Baladna Food Industries, told The Business Year: “Made in Qatar resonates strongly with all consumers in Qatar. Visionary in nature and demanding exacting standards, Baladna has proven that products made in Qatar can and do compete with the best the world can offer. Qatar has become a model for developing a food security and self-sufficiency program.”
Additionally, local producers have managed to keep the country supplied despite recent logistical challenges. Qatar’s agriculture sector has continued to be “extremely active” amid the novel COVID-19 outbreak, producing more fresh and organic vegetables and fruits, prominent Qatari farmer Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf mentioned.
This chapter also sheds light on other business segments where sustainability is at the core, such as district cooling. “Our main contributions are in the field of energy efficiency; in a fossil fuel-dependent country like Qatar, this is extremely relevant. We have addressed district cooling needs in 100% of the Pearl and 90% of the buildings in West Bay. The whole Pearl is supplied by the largest district cooling plant in the world [130,000 tons of refrigeration],” Yasser Salah Al Jaidah, CEO of Qatar Cool, told The Business Year.