Ministry of Commerce and Industry launches Industrial Services Platform

November 15, 2022

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced the launch of the Industrial Services Platform in the Ministry’s website. This platform is an electronic interface that supports industrial sector investors, providing them with e-services throughout the various stages of the industrial project, to save time and effort, and dispense the need to visit the Ministry’s headquarters.

 

This initiative stems from the Ministry’s keenness to improve the business services system in Qatar, as well as to facilitate and speed up the delivery of services for factory owners. Moreover, the said initiative contributes to encouraging the investment and industrial climate in Qatar. It also instils a culture of innovation in the institutional work environment.

As per the Ministry, the Industrial Services Platform includes 15 main services for a start:

  • The establishment stage: services of issuing, renewing, and writing off an industrial project initial approval;
  • The construction stage: services of issuing, renewing, and writing off licensing to establish an industrial project; and
  • The operation phase: services of issuing, renewing, and writing off licensing to operate an industrial project (certificate of registration in the Industrial Registry).

 

 

The Ministry indicates that obtaining an industrial project initial approval requires one day (if all documents are submitted via the platform), such that the extract validity period is one year. Obtaining an industrial project initial approval requires filling out the relevant application form through the Industrial Services Platform, and having an active commercial register.

As for the service of renewing the industrial project initial approval, applicants obtain it upon applying, to receive a renewal valid for one year. Obtaining it requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform. With regard to the service of writing off the initial approval, the Ministry explained that it is obtained immediately upon applying, and requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform.

Concerning the industrial project establishment license service, the Ministry indicates that it requires three days, and the extract validity period is one year. Obtaining the said service requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform, submitting the project data (raw materials, machines, and products), and attaching the environmental permit issued by the Ministry of Environment, and the notice of the initial plot allocation for the project, or a lease contract/certificate of ownership of the construction site of the factory.

For the service of renewing the license to establish an industrial project, the details provided by the Ministry indicate that the service can be obtained immediately upon applying, and the renewal validity period is one year. Obtaining the said service requires filling out the relevant form via the platform. Likewise, applicants can write off the license to establish the industrial project upon applying for the service, after filling out the relevant form via the platform.

The Ministry indicated that obtaining licensing to operate an industrial project (certificate of registration in the Industrial Registry) takes five days, and the validity period of the obtained license is two years.

The service in question requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform, provided that the applicant holds a license to establish an industrial project and a valid commercial license.

The required attachments are: an environmental operating permit, a building completion certificate, and a copy of the certificate of conformity to Qatari standards issued by the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology, in the case of industrial facilities that produce concrete, bricks, asphalt, and insulating materials (to be provided upon request). With regard to the service of renewing a license to operate an industrial project (registration certificate), the Ministry explanation indicates that the renewing a license to operate an industrial project is obtained immediately upon applying for the service, to receive a renewed license valid for two years.

This process requires applying for the service via the platform, and attaching the operating permit, and the project budget. Writing off licensing to operate an industrial project (registration certificate) is obtained immediately upon applying for the relevant service via the platform, having a valid or expired industrial project operating license.

According to the details provided by the Ministry, the processing time of increasing the production capacity of the industrial project takes three days, and requires filling out the relevant application form via the Industrial Services Platform. Moreover, the processing time of the service of obtaining a customs exemption for an industrial facility is three days, and requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform, given the availability of a valid license to establish an industrial project in the case of projects in the construction phase, or a valid operating license in the case of projects in the operating phase.

Concerning applying for power supply at subsidized prices, the Ministry indicates that this service requires one day, after filling out the relevant application form via the platform, and attaching a copy of the latest power bill, provided that the applicant holds a valid operating license. Obtaining approval for halting an industrial project takes one day, and the extract validity period is 6 months. The service in question requires filling out the relevant application form via the Industrial Services Platform, provided that the applicant holds a valid operating license.

The Industrial Services Platform is accessible through the website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, or through the following link: https://industrialportal.moci.gov.qa/login.