Ahmed Abdullah al-Naimi, General Manager Qatar International Exhibition Center confirmed that the center in concern of supporting the organizing companies by assisting in obtaining visas to exhibitors quickly and simplify customs procedures in addition to providing all necessary services to advanced techniques in the new headquarters of the Center, courses and symposiums will be held with the Organization of UFI designed to educate and rehabilitate the organizers.
Naimi also stressed on the need to organize exhibitions consumer at high levels by specialized companies on such organizing. Hence the center is desire to organize consumer exhibitions to protech the consumer, merchant and the companies, complaining about the problem of fluctuating prices of products in some consumer exhibitions and stressing the need to contain these exhibitions with high-quality goods at prices declared, and low cost.
This came during a meeting held on Tuesday evening between the exhibitions organizing companies and businessmen and Director of the Center for Qatar International Exhibition Mr. Ahmed Abdullah al-Naimi in presence of Mr. Adel Abdel Rahman Al Manai member of the board and chief information, exhibition and public relations committee in the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting held in the chamber discussed many points raised by the chamber and the organizing companies on the Qatar International Exhibition Center.
Naimi pointed out that the meter price inside the new premises will change but will remain fixed for the area of external space.
The Director of the Center for Qatar International Exhibition detailed explanation of the new premises, which will moved to in November and which will be space of 28 thousand square meters, length of 240 meters and area of the show of up to 15 thousand square meters, and the remaining area will receive and administration offices, restaurants, stores and staff accommodation and other centers. The front pariking areas are huge and show tents can be installed therein and can host large conferences.
He also pointed out that the theory of supply and demand is the basis of success in the exhibitions industry, where the success of any body to organize a specialized exhibition and achieve international satisfactory results worthy of the reputation of exhibitions in the State and reflect its prosperity, such body shall have achieved a classifications authorized it to obtain the priority of organizing such event in the coming years as a result of investment exchange size which will be held at the time of these exhibitions and the volume of its local and foreign visitors and the volume of the local and international suppliers whom they compete in booking a space for them for those exhibitions and the volume of hotel booking and service sector which were used by the exhibition visitors upon that event, hence that body shall have the priority to organize this exhibition in the next years when it applies for organizing the same.
Naimi has explained the conditions and mechanism of the organizing exhibitions and the elements that must be met, saying that the priority is the booking for the events organized by ministries and governmental bodies presented by the national companies then the events the second priority shall be for the foreign companies which fulfill the conditions and in which a Qatari representative in the State shall be therein. In respect of the countries exhibitions, an application should be presented by the embassy of that country to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State and a contract with a national organizing company should be entered into.
He added that the center has set for all exhibitors clear conditions governing the licensing. Where application of a license shall be filled, which include important element such as the exhibition objectives. And the most significant expected results and a list of names and the size of the expected participation of exhibitors and a feasibility study and presenting of a summary of the exhibition results if it had been established in previous years in the available figure of transactions volume exchanged therein and the volume of visitors from home and abroad, and the volume of local and international exhibitors who have participated and the volume of hotel reservations and the services sector, within the item requested biography of the applying company in order to ensure the study of exhibition and the processing plan and availability of appropriate quality specifications in its events and not conflicting with other licensed events that will take place in the State during the same period or in the same geographical(in respect of the internal exhibitions that take place in the government halls) in addition to ensure fittings of the exhibition and general distribution of the exhibition layout and in conformity with the provided suitable spaces for corridors and emergency exits to ensure safety of visitors in addition to be equipped with the suitable security measurements and ensure the level of organizing and quality specifications that maintain the reputation of the State of Qatar.
And then the application shall be studied according to international standards. The attendees raised the issue of specialized exhibitions, organized in the center and in response, Mr. Naimi said that the center management hopes that the Center has the potential to accommodate a maximum number of the largest annual exhibitions provided however that such exhibitions shall fulfill the previous requirements, and considering the limitation of the show hall. After reviewing the studies presented on the proposed exhibitions it will be judged and expected success rate exhibition on the basis of which a resolution will be passed giving priority of organizing the exhibition and the planning its area and a preference for the rest of the opposition, which is the least of it.
Number of participants pointed that the decision of the center to organize commercial and consumer exhibitions and the reason of such decision. The replay was that; the center, after studying the current status of the consumer exhibitions has issued instructions to regulate this matter, where some of these exhibitions that did not comply with the security, safety and consumer protection safety measurements have been rejected.
Naimi pointed out that the best solution is that; such exhibitions shall be organized by the center through preparing the exhibition hall and divided it to sections and distribute the exhibitions sections to the local exhibitions organizing companies. Each of them shall guarantee to attract exhibitors from outside and ensure supply of original goods form the country of origin and ensure compliance with the exiting laws in the State. Hence, it is been guaranteed that the laws have not be breached and avoid completion with the local merchant with a false goods and give the local merchant the opportunity to participate in the mentioned exhibition.
In respect of the vision of the Center to the importance of assessing the specializations required to set up exhibitions in Qatar, he said that the center is handling classification of exhibits to be set up, all which have special conditions for licensing, and these items can be amended, which are the States exhibitions set up in the name of States must provide foreign embassies license applications through diplomatic channels, however, that should be done before six months from the date of exhibitions at least, establishment of an exhibition every two years is allowed for each country and it is required to be regulated by a national company and sold exclusively on the displayed samples via commercial transactions to a company or national institutions after completing their customs procedures or re-export outside the country.
In respect of the specialized exhibitions which focus on a specific product will be held in the special hall in the center with a purpose of displaying only and to be hell annually. It is required to obtain this classification, to be held continuously for three consecutive years.
With regard to the consumer commercial exhibitions, shall be with objective of selling directly to the customers is such away, stipulated by the center, that ensure distribution of these exhibitions among the organizing bodies in the State through general lot providing that the national exhibitors are not less than 35% therein. The individual exhibitions are organized for a purpose of individual promoting activity or service, which is not periodic.
The debate centered on the role of the supporting and encouraging local exhibition organizers to attend events and global events. Mr. Naimi, pointed out that in respect of the financial support to the external exhibitions, the council of ministers, as per the law, is the competent authority, which issued the license on participation in external exhibitions in the name of the State of Qatar, where this issue is brought before it along with a study on the exhibition, then the cabinet, either approve to participate, specifying the authority body in the State to organize it and the budget granted from the ministry of finance or reject participation in the mentioned exhibition, therefore, there is no authority included in the center's law to license participation in external exhibitions without approval of the cadent and there is no financial allowances in the center's budget to support the external exhibitions.
In respect of coordination with supply companies and inviting participation exhibits diverse place outside the State, the center management is coordinating with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry to announce for merchant in all economic domains on the external exhibitions in order to participate therein and participate in promoting their products.
The invitation to participate in the internal exhibitions is the authority of exhibitions department, where as the center consider in every year sending of a letter to all licensed national bodies to practice organizing exhibitions in the State in order to apply to organize its events. An initial annual plan shall be set forth for reservations presented by such bodies, then they requested to complete its procedures in compliance with the conditions. The authority which completes its procedures in compliance with the conditions, lease agreement for the area shall be entered into with it.
He stressed that the center does not stop its support to local firms mentioning that one of the company that practicing its first trial in this field has given incentive through increasing the displaying space to appear in a good appearance.
A number of attendees have complaint for delaying number of exhibitions due to non availability of adequate space and Mr. Al-Naimi hoped that the new center would posses the possibility to adopt the maximum quantity of spaces, where the exhibition space to 15,000 square meter with a huge capabilities.
Al-Naimi considered that the law granting the center the authority of organizing exhibitions in the State is not conflicting with the interests of organizing bodies of exhibitions in the State. Practically the center did not organize except one specialized exhibition, which is the jewelry and watches exhibition after being entrusted this by H.E. the Minister of Finance acting Minister of Economy and Commerce against exhibitions plan that included nineteen specialized exhibition.
Number of exhibitions organizers confirmed the necessity of activating the customs office in Qatar International Exhibition Center. Mr. Al-Naimi confirmed that the center will study this proposal and coordinate with the Customs & Ports General Authority to study the possibility of implementing this. He further, mentioned that the center is currently coordinating with the Customs and Ports General Authority to open an office in the exhibition hall, if the exhibition nature so required, in addition, that the center shall provide the organizing companies immediately with all document and letters, which enable them to facilitate and accelerate clearance of their goods.
Discussion stressed on the necessity of finding laws that obligate non-Qatari companies to involve Qatari companies when organizing exhibitions in Doha, to ensure transfer of knowledge and development of Qatari markets in these aspects. Director of Qatar International Fair Centre referred to Qatar Companies Law of 2002 and Foreign Capital Investment Law of 2000, in the economic field. The Centre, he added, obliges states’ exhibitions to organize their exhibitions through national companies. The Centre has stated, in its executive articles of the Centre’s Law, that the foreign company intending to organize an exhibition should involve a Qatari partner and a company accredited in Qatar. However, only one exhibition shall be organized by a foreign company in one year in the State, while the other activities shall be organized by accredited Qatari companies.
Some participants focused on the necessity of setting up shaded areas in front of the reception area in the new building project of Qatar International Fair Centre, to protect exhibited products against sun rays and other natural factors. Here Mr. Al Nuaimi said that the Centre would discuss this issue with Barwa Real Estate Company, in charge of executing the new centre project.
Participants inquired about the center's criteria in evaluating the standards required to engage Qatari companies in such events. The Centre administration requests that the company in the Arab or international organization which intends to be accredited by the Centre for classification purposes, should, as minimum, be a member of two international associations specialized in organizing exhibitions, to ensure that such company is operational and functional, whether inside the State territories or abroad, and to fulfill the minimum conditions required for classification of any exhibiting company. The centre is but a public facility and institution owned by the State; and it is keen to respect implementation of laws and regulations applicable in the State, endeavoring to ensure its policies and public interest of the exhibition industry. The Centre always and diligently work to improve and qualify local companies and competent authorities concerned with the act of exhibitions, with a view of achieving best results. The Centre would accept any ideas that may contribute to meeting conditions and specifications required for granting a permission to organize an exhibition that rises to be a civilized facade to the State, provided that all required technical and legal terms and specifications are met.
Meanwhile, members of the organizing companies pledged granting companies an appropriate grace period to make necessary arrangements prior to opening any exhibition. Al Nuaimi said that the arrangement period so given now would be adequate for any local or international exhibition to be organized, adding that the time factor would be necessary to be utilized for other activities in the State.
He explained that the Centre’s administration would make every effort to provide all necessary and available services, to make successful activities initiated by exhibiting companies, by always renovating and making maintenance to the exhibition hall, providing cleaning services, providing and arranging facilities such as halls for serving businessmen, stores and specific areas within the exhibition hall to provide hotel and banking facilities. The new Centre, he added, would hold a branch office of Qatar National Bank to serve clients 24 hours a day, as well as transport, ticket and cafeteria services.