Businessmen welcome decisions by two ministries to reduce rates for services

Published: 3 July 2024

NT Bureau
Doha

A number of businessmen have welcomed and expressed their appreciation of the recent decisions by two key ministries to reduce the charges for various services, saying that it would give a huge boost to the national economy and the private sector, Al Raya reports.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry had recently reduced the fees for services it provides to the industry, trade and business development sectors by up to 90%, and the Minister of Municipality had also announced a reduction in rents of the lands in the Industrial Area.

Businessmen who spoke to Al Raya said that they hoped these decisions will encourage the rest of the ministries, bodies and institutions that provide various services to the business sector to reduce their fees, such as the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Passports and Kahramaa Corporation, especially since the fees for renewing residence and visas, customs fees, water and electricity fees, are a burden on business owners.

They said that the Qatari private sector is looking forward to more facilities and to offering more investment opportunities and diverse projects that suit all classes of investors. They expressed their hope to find solutions to the high rental prices of shops and offices in the country, especially since they are one of the main factors for the losses of entrepreneurs and account for most of their monthly income.

Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, First Vice Chairman of Qatar Chamber, said: “The recent ministerial decisions to reduce the fees for services provided by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and reduce the rental rates of the lands in the Industrial Area affiliated with the Ministry of Municipality, in addition to launching the Simaisma project with investments amounting to QR20bn on an area of 8 million square meters, are all major positive factors that will enhance the investment climate in Qatar, and open wide doors for the private sector towards more investments.”

Businessman Saad Al Tawa Al Hajri stressed that reducing the rental rates of the plots in the Industrial Area will encourage businessmen to direct their investments towards setting up industries, which include major factories with strong production lines and good products.

Many businessmen have a real desire to expand their businesses and establish ambitious projects, but they are waiting for incentives from government agencies to enhance their investments, he added.
Salem Al Nuaimi noted that project owners are currently waiting for similar initiatives from the General Administration of Customs and Kahramaa to reduce fees, pointing out that a large segment of young investors face the problem of high customs fees on some of the goods they import, which prompts them to offer them at a high price, in addition to the high cost of water and electricity.