Archives: News

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Al Boraq Automobiles Co. W.L.L, dealer of Porsche vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Porsche Boxster 718 and Carrera 911 models of 2017 because the fastening screws for the fuel collection pipes on the affected vehicles can shear off due to stress corrosion cracking.
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call centre: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Modern home, dealer of Bosh products in Qatar, has announced the recall of the following 2008-2011 models of Bosch Cooker because the gas connection, fitted to the affected appliances, can develop cracks or breaks in certain circumstances, which can lead to a gas leakage.
 HSG342050UHSG222020ZHGG24W225M
Note that the devices included in the recall campaign have the model number (E-Nr.) and batch number (FD) on the plate of the appliance.
 
Check the comprehensiveness of the serial numbers by visiting the link www.gascookingsafety.com or by communicating with the authorized dealer.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that dealers follow up on products affected by defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Benz GLE-Class 2016 model because the setting of the front passenger seat occupancy sensor may not correspond to factory specification.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is participating in the second edition of the Government Procurement and Contracting Conference and Exhibition, which is being held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, from 6 to 8 April 2017 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
The participation of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce comes in line with its efforts to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors, and to inform attendees of the initiatives and investment opportunities the Ministry has put forward in order to enhance the participation of the private sector, support and encourage Qatari entrepreneurs to establish new companies, and promote a culture of entrepreneurship in Qatar.
During its participation in the exhibition at the conference, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce outlined the initiatives and investment projects that it has launched in various sectors. These include the development of investment opportunities in the sports services sector in Qatar. The sports sector will provide 30 investment opportunities for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in event management and marketing, sports development, sports facilities contracting, and venue management.
The private hospitals project is another initiative in the health sector, the, which includes the allocation of five land plots in a number of areas, including Al Shamal municipality, Ain Khalid and Abu Hamour areas. Also, the private schools project in the education sector allocates 11 land plots to the private sector with an area of 15,000 square meters in the municipalities of Al Daayen, Al Wakrah, Al Rayyan and Al Khor.
In the tourism sector, the Ministry briefed investors about the transformation of the former Doha Exhibition Center into a modern and integrated entertainment city. In relation to food security projects, the Ministry is reviewing investment opportunities it has proposed for the establishment of three floating fish farming projects in the northern region of the state and a shrimp farming project in the coastal region of Al Arish.
The Ministry also participated in panel discussions as part of the Government Procurement and Contracting Conference and Exhibition. Mr. Saud bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Director of Economic Policies and Research Department at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, spoke in a panel discussion about the best means to manage the supply chain in small and medium enterprises. He highlighted Qatar’s readiness to implement the second phase of the National Development Strategy 2017-2022, in particular policies pertaining to economic development.
He added that Qatar is characterized by an integrated and advanced infrastructure, which allows small and medium-sized enterprises to play an important role in supporting the growth of the Qatari economy in the upcoming period, as the public sector plans to provide investment opportunities worth more than 20 billion US dollars to private investors.
Mr. Al Attiyah highlighted a first-of-its-kind initiative in the State of Qatar that involves the development and localization of supply chains in the sports sector through the involvement of local small and medium enterprises by offering promising investment opportunities to the private sector. Mr. Al Attiyah said the initiative represents a pilot project that could be implemented in other economic sectors.
The Ministry identified a number of investment opportunities with high competitive value and high returns on investment, such as event management and sports marketing, sports development, stadium construction, stadium management and maintenance, in addition to promising investment opportunities in sports equipment and clothing, and sports tourism. A total of 83 investment opportunities worth approximately 47 billion Qatari riyals have been identified.
The Ministry also outlined the challenges facing the Qatari private sector and identified possible solutions, including the establishment of the Sports Business Park and the registration and pre-qualification window for the sports sector for all stakeholders in the government sector.
More than 3000 visitors and 25 governmental and semi-governmental organizations participated in the first edition of the Government Procurement and Contracting Conference and Exhibition last year, which resulted in the creation of 450 employment opportunities worth 3 billion riyals, in addition to contracts worth about 111 million riyals for small and medium enterprises.
The annual conference aims to provide a platform for communication between major companies, government and semi-government agencies, and small and medium-sized companies to familiarize them with investment opportunities and to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors in Qatar.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2016 model because the expansion reservoir for the coolant may not correspond to specification.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with United Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co., dealer of Renault vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Renault Dokker 2017 model over a potential defect in the sliding side door.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co W.L.L, dealer of Toyota vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Toyota Avanza 2014-2015 models over a potential defect in the fuel tank inlet hose.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S Class 2017 model because the adaptive damping system information label may be missing.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

​The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is seeking to provide support for the sports sector as one of the pillars of the economic diversification policy adopted by the State to accomplish the Qatar National Vision 2030.The event ticketing market in Qatar’s sports sector will witness significant growth, rising from an estimated 30 million Qatari riyals in 2016 to 62 million Qatari riyals in 2025This study aims to increase the contribution of the sports sector to the GDP and to provide investors and businesses with an overview of investment opportunities in this sectorThe net present value of investments in ticketing services is expected to reach approximately 26 million Qatari riyals over the next ten years (from 2016 to 2025).
 
 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has unveiled new investment opportunities in ticketing services for sporting, cultural and entertainment events, based on the findings of a study on sports investment opportunities in Qatar.
The study, undertaken by the Ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar Olympic Committee, Aspire Zone Foundation, and Qatar Tourism Authority, is part of efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships and provide support for the sports sector, which represents one of the pillars of the economic diversification policy adopted by the State to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030. The study aims at increasing the contribution of the sports sector to the GDP and providing investors and businesses with an overview of the investment opportunities in the sports industry.
In the context of presenting investment opportunities in the event ticketing market in Qatar, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce said the role of the ticketing service provider and its added value largely depends on the nature of event. This role can be as limited as providing a ticketing system or as extensive as offering an integrated multi-channel distribution network.
The study found that ticketing companies usually offer discounted ticket prices to companies and sponsors of sports tournaments, while tickets sold to the public at various outlets are priced relatively higher.
In this context, the Ministry highlighted that ticketing companies can boost their sales by adopting effective marketing plans, involving trademarks and various communication channels (such as the internet, call centers, ticket sale outlets and sales windows on the event site) to attract the public.
The Ministry noted that this investment opportunity will allow local small and medium-sized companies to provide booking and ticket sale solutions to local events through agreements with organizers and sponsors of various events.
With regard to the ticketing market in the sports sector in Qatar, the study conducted by the Ministry indicated that this activity is expected to grow rapidly, from 30 million Qatari riyals in 2016 to 62 million Qatari riyals in 2025, at a compounded annual growth rate of 8%, as the country prepares to host major local and international sporting events such as the 2016 Road World Championship, the 2019 World Championships in Athletics and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar also hosts a myriad of annual events such as Doha Diamond League, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open tennis tournament and the Moto GP World Championship.
The Qatar Tourism Authority is also playing an important role in supporting the sports sector through strategic development plans aimed at bolstering local demand by hosting more than 100 key sports events organized between 2015 and 2016, including 60 international events.
When it comes to competition in Qatar’s ticketing market, the study noted that local companies lack the ability to meet the requirements to host international events by focusing on less complex and attractive sectors (such as cinemas). The study noted that the sports sector offers investment opportunities that allow new competitors in the market (both local and international) to provide additional services in various fields to differentiate themselves from the competition.
The study outlined the financial plan for investments in ticketing services in Qatar, noting that investors can take advantage of this opportunity through the allocation of investments worth about 31 million Qatari riyals. The net present value of these investment is expected to increase to 26 million Qatari riyals over the next 10 years (from 2016 to 2025) at internal rate of return of 19%.
 
Local companies with limited financial capacity can invest as low as 15 million Qatari riyals, with a net present value of 13 million Qatari riyals. When investing QR 5 million, the net present value rises to 4 million Qatari riyals.
The study indicated that if a company acquired the complete rights to distribute tickets, its revenues are expected to increase from 46 million Qatari riyals in 2016 to 111 million Qatari riyals in 2025. The study also noted that small investors can also achieve significant growth in revenues.
As for operating costs, the study showed that the cost of goods sold account for 78% of total costs of ticket sales, which essentially represents the bulk of purchasing costs. Purchasing costs also include reimbursements to event organizers, artists or participants. The study estimated profits arising from these investment opportunities before interest, tax and depreciation, at 12 million Qatari riyals, with a profit margin of 11%, based on the cost structure and revenue analysis for this opportunity.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of recall of Infiniti M35 and M56 models of 2007-2009 and FX35 and FX50 models of 2004-2006 over a potential defect in the passenger air bag inflator.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Mannai Trading Co. W.L.L, dealer of Subaru vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Subaru Impreza and Legacy models of 2010-2014 over defect in secondary air injection pump.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
 
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
    

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Doha Marketing Services Company W.L.L. (Domasco), dealer of Volvo vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Volvo V40, S60 and S80 models of 2011-2015 over potential leak in exhaust manifold gasket.
    
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16000
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar   
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has released statistics showing that car agents and distributors across Qatar have provided substitute vehicles to consumers in line with the Consumer Protection Law that compels commercial agents and distributors to provide substitute products to consumers free of charge, if maintenance works performed under warranty take longer than 15 days.
The statistics showed that car agents and distributors across Qatar provided 3794 substitute vehicles to consumers in 2016 since the maintenance period exceeded 15 days, which is the period stipulated in the Consumer Protection law.
The Ministry said the increase in the provision of alternative vehicles, from 1300 in 2015 to 3794 in 2016, reflects the Ministry’s continuous efforts to protect consumers, develop the automotive sector, enhance competition in maintenance and repair services, and create a competitive environment that provides more options to consumers in terms of maintenance, spare part sales and insurance.
The Ministry stressed that it will intensify its inspection campaigns to ensure that car dealerships comply with their obligations and will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to the relevant authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against the perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urges all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– Ministry of Economy and Commerce social media accounts:
– Twitter MEC_QATAR
– Instagram MEC_QATAR
– Ministry of Economy and Commerce iPhone and Android apps: MEC_QATAR

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S Class 2016 model because the belt extenders may not retract as intended before starting to drive and may remain extended.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Altima models of 2016 and 2017 over potential defect in rear door lock.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Doha Marketing Services Company (DOMASCO), dealer of Honda vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Honda City and Jazz models of 2012 over potential malfunction in front passenger airbag.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Doha Marketing Services Company W.L.L. (Domasco), dealer of Volvo vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Volvo XC60 model of 2017 over potential malfunction in the front left and right hand side seat airbag.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16000
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar   
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

​The education sector’s nominal output increased at an annual average rate of 12.1% over the past five years (2011-2015)The total revenues of the private education sector increased from 2 billion riyals in 2011 to 5.8 billion riyals in 2015The education sector’s workforce increased from 26,900 in 2011 to 50,600 in 2015Promising outlook for investment in schools and universities
 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has announced the findings of its analytical report on the economic contribution of the education sector. The report highlighted the important contribution of the sector to economic development, particularly when it comes to the supply of skilled labor that enhances the competitiveness of the national economy.
The report comes as part of the Ministry’s efforts to bolster the efficiency and competitiveness of economic sectors through the analysis of the performance of productive and service industries. The Ministry is also seeking to identify promising sectors, taking into consideration local, regional and international factors to determine the necessary policies and measures to support economic activities and bolster growth.
The report highlighted that the remarkable economic boom which Qatar has witnessed in recent years, coupled with steady demographic growth, necessitated the expansion of the education sector’s capacity to meet growing demand for education services.
The report noted that the number of schools, which represent a pillar of the education sector, has witnessed significant growth between 2010 and 2014, with the establishment of 243 new schools. Kindergarten schools accounted for two-thirds of the newly established institutions, followed by primary schools at 18%. Preparatory and secondary schools accounted for 7% and 9%, respectively, of newly established schools.
The increase in the number of schools was driven by a 36% increase in the number of students, from 197,000 in 2010 to 268,000 in 2015.
Private schools welcomed 84% of new students throughout the different education stages and accounted for 80% of newly established schools between 2010 and 2015, which highlights the increasing role of the private sector in the education sector.
 
Graph
Pink: Public schools Blue: Private schools
From right to left: All schools; secondary schools, preparatory schools; primary schools; kindergarten
The report showed an 83.7% increase in the number of university students across Qatar from 15,300 in 2010 to 28,100 in 2014. Public universities hosted 88.9% of new students.
The report said the nominal output of the education sector rose by an annual average of 12.1% over the past five years (2011-2015). The average increase in the education sector’s output surpassed nominal GDP growth, thus raising the contribution of the education sector to nominal GDP growth from 1.1% in 2011 to 1.8% in 2015.
The real output of the education sector also rose significantly, at an annual average rate of 8.5%, twice the real GDP growth average rate. This has raised the contribution of the education sector from 1.1% in 2011 to 1.3% of real GDP in 2015.
The total revenues of the private education sector also increased from 2 billion riyals in 2011 to 5.8 billion riyals in 2015
 
From right to left: real; nominal
The report highlighted that the growing contribution of the education sector was evident in employment numbers. The sector employed 50,600 people in 2015, up from 26,900 in 2011, a twofold increase that surpasses the overall increase in employment across Qatar, which stood at 53.9% during the same period. In 2015, the education sector employed 2.6% of Qatar’s work force, compared to 2.1% in 2011. As of 2015, the education sector employed 12% of the Qatari workforce, making it the second largest employer of Qataris after the civil and military government agencies.
 
Chart
Public sector and defense: 51.3%; Financial, real estate and insurance services: 4.3%; Transport and communication: 5%; Commerce, hotels and restaurants: 3.4%; Construction: 1.7%; Electricity and water: 2.5%; Manufacturing: 1.9%; Mining: 9.7%; Education: 12%; Other service activities: 3.1%; Health: 5.2%
The Ministry also highlighted the promising outlook in the education and higher education sector, calling for an increase in investment in private educational institutions. The Ministry projected demand for school education to continue to grow over the next five years.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration Al Wajba Motors, dealer of Lamborghini vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Lamborghini Aventador models of 2012-2016 because liquid fuel could reach the carbon canister and the purge valves, resulting in fuel vapors.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call centre: 16000
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar   
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has called on all vehicle agents and dealers across Qatar to post fuel efficiency labels from 2017 models onwards. The label determines the vehicle’s fuel efficiency based on fuel economy measures. The fuel economy of a vehicle is the distance travelled per unit volume of fuel consumed (i.e., the distance travelled in kilometers per 1 liter of fuel consumed).
The display of fuel efficiency labels aims to raise consumer awareness about the energy efficiency of each vehicle, enabling the client to make informed decisions about which vehicle to purchase and how to reduce fuel consumption.
The fuel efficiency label includes information on the manufacturer, model year, production year, engine capacity, vehicle category, fuel economy rating (from excellent to very poor), fuel economy index and fuel type.
The Ministry stressed that agents and dealers should post fuel efficiency labels on vehicles and refrain from removing the stickers before selling the vehicle. The Ministry said dealers and agents are required to brief clients on vehicle’s fuel efficiency, in line with the GCC Standardization Organization general requirements (decision number 42 of 2015) for motor vehicles, which stipulates the need to display the fuel efficiency label as part of the GCC Conformity Certificate for Motor Vehicle.
The Ministry stressed that it will intensify its inspection campaigns to ensure the compliance of agents and dealers, and will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urges all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social networks
– Twitter MEC_QATAR
– Instagram MEC_QATAR
– The application of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on iPhone and Android devices MEC_QATAR

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz E Class 2016 model over the incorrect coupling of the O-ring of the coolant hose connector.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Pathfinder 2016 model over potential defect in the fuel tank specifications.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Doha Marketing Services Company (DOMASCO), dealer of Honda vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Honda Accord and Pilot 2012 models over potential malfunction in front passenger airbag.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has requested the owners of Partner and Limited Partnership Companies, with branches which are operating under either a different name, or conducting activities other than those undertaken by the main company, or both, to amend their status. These actions will be exempt from fees.
Should a company own the brand, it must demonstrate brand ownership or otherwise prove the right of use.
 
Companies are requested to come forward to the Ministry offices, 2nd Floor, Tower B, Lusail City, between 12th – 23rd March 2017.
 
This initiative stems from the Ministry’s efforts to provide support for commercial companies in Qatar, and to bolster the role of the private sector and the sector’s contribution to the economic development of the State, in a bid to build a competitive, diversified and sustainable economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
 
 
 
If there is more than one branch for a main company with a specific business activity, the branches must carry the same brand name and the same business activity.
 
The Ministry confirmed that the conditions of a commercial registration can be adjusted, through visiting the Ministry and taking one or more of the following actions: adding activities to the main company; or removing activities from the branches to ensure compatibility with the activities of the main company; or both.
It is also possible to change the brand name of the branch or the name of main company to have a consistent company name.
 
The Ministry confirmed that it is possible to either establish a new corporation instead of a separate branch, or make a non-compatible branch an affiliate to the separated branch, under the same name.
 
The Ministry clarified that Partner and Limited Partnership Company owners wishing to move a branch to a new headquarter, are required to separate the branch from the main company. Furthermore, a memo from all partners requesting to change the branch to a new headquarter along with an approval letter from the partners on the deletion of the branch, and a copy of the partners personal IDs should be submitted to the Ministry.
 
In a case where the owners of a company wish to amend the branch name and activities in order to be compliant with the main company, a letter should be submitted to this effect, including written approval from all partners and accompanied by a copy of the partners’ personal IDs.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce won the second-place award for the Best Digital Service through Mobile Applications, the third-place award for the Best Government Website and the fourth-place award for the Best Digital Service for Business at the Qatar Digital Government Excellence Awards.
The Ministry received the award at the closing ceremony of Qatar’s Information and Communication Technology Exhibition and Conference (QITCOM 2017) that was held at the Qatar National Convention Center.
HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti presented the award to Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Ali, IT Director at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
The award highlights the Ministry’s successful efforts in providing smart and innovative services that contribute to the development of the business sector in Qatar, in line with its vision to build a diversified economic landscape and self-reliant private sector within a competitive business environment. The mobile phone application is regarded as one of the most innovative projects that the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has implemented, in accordance with the highest global standards. The Ministry is continuously working to develop and improve its offerings.
The mobile phone app offers a unique combination of smart e-services designed to improve the level of facilities offered to investors, businessmen and consumers, among other clients.
These services include: the establishment of companies, whether by investors residing in Qatar or abroad; the issuance and renewal of commercial registrations; the issuance and renewal of commercial licenses; requesting a non-ownership certificate; searching for a commercial name or activity; cancelling a main or branch registration; adding a commercial activity; issuing a substitute for a lost license; and uploading all required documents through the application. These services save investors both time and effort, and contribute to the promotion of efficiency and productivity.
The app also offers consumer services, such as submitting complaints and applying for supply services. Users can also access various international reports and economic indicators and stay up to date with the ministry’s latest news, recall campaigns and administrative closure decisions, as well as the latest economic developments on the local, regional and global level.
The Qatar Digital Government launched the first edition of the Digital Government Excellence Awards in 2015 to instill a culture of positive competition and excellence among government entities in terms of digital transformation and the development of digital services.
The annual Digital Government Excellence Awards acknowledges and rewards government entities for providing and developing digital services in addition to encouraging all parties to continue to harness communications technology and modern information technology. 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce had recently won the ‘Best Ministry Smart Application in the Arab World’ for the second consecutive year in recognition of its official smartphone app MEC_QATAR. The Ministry received the award at the 8th edition of the ‘Smart Government Awards’ that was held in Cairo to honor winners across the Arabia region.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce also won several prizes last year for its mobile phone app on iPhone and Android devices, including the “Best Smartphone Application” at 7th edition of the Smart Government Excellence Awards, which was organized in the city of Kuwait under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in the State of Kuwait.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce also received the “Best Mobile-Government Service Award” across the Arab world in the economy and commerce. The award was presented during the 4th edition of the World Government Summit held in Dubai, UAE, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz GT Class 2016 model because the connection of the carbon drive shaft to the engine/transmission flange may not be carried out according to factory specifications.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has announced the launch of an electronic service for patent registration. The service is accessible to members of the public and intellectual property agents through the Ministry’s website.
 
The launch of this service and other relevant services, which will be added successively, comes as part of the Ministry’s efforts to continuously improve and develop its services in a bid to upgrade the Business Services System in Qatar and facilitate the delivery of services through the adoption of global best practices in the field of intellectual property. The new service also provides a high-quality integrated electronic system that empowers inventors and protects intellectual property rights and the financial exclusive rights of the patent owner in accordance with applicable laws, agreements and international treaties.
 
According to the new electronic patent registration system, the submission of applications and their review is conducted electronically to ensure service quality and that applications are completed at the scheduled time before a final decision on the registration of intellectual property is reached. The system will enable the public to easily complete the procedures without visiting the Ministry, and will save clients time and efforts.
 
Conditions that must be met in the patent application
 
The Ministry outlined the conditions that should be met in the patent application as follows. First, novelty, meaning new; the invention should not be disclosed before the application is submitted. The publication and issuance of a patent or the partial or full exploitation of the invention in Qatar or abroad should also not take place before an application is filed to the office or dated.
The invention should also have the potential for industrial application in general, regardless of whether the invention is related to physical goods, an industrial process or a manufacturing method.
The third condition that must be met in the patent application is creativity. Creativity is linked to novelty but assessed separately. Within this context, the invention should not be an obvious one or previously known to experts. It should also contribute to progress in the industrial field.
 
Procedures to submit a patent registration application through the Ministry’s website:
 
The Ministry outlined the steps for patent registration through its websitehttps://services.mec.gov.qa. The service allows the applicant to register the invention and obtain a certificate proving exclusive rights to the invention if all conditions are met.
 
The applicant should log in to the system, choose whether to file the application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property; complete the application form; fill out the names of the inventors, invention, priorities (if applicable), and agent data (if applicable); and attach the required documents.  
 
Once the application is submitted, the formal examination process starts, with the possibility that the application can be returned after providing justification. Once the examination process is concluded and the application request is approved, the applicant must pay the registration fees and the first and second year fees, depending on the status of the applicant as determined at the beginning of the registration process.
After the payment of fees, an email including the number of the patent is sent to the applicant. The email will outline the obligations that should be met within a legal deadline, in addition to the annual fees that must be paid.
After the completion of the registration process, the applicant is awarded an application number QA and is free to manufacture, waive, license and sell the invention while awaiting the patent issuance. The applicant should, however, continue to pay the annual fee (before and after obtaining the patent). After receiving the number, the applicant can pay the formal examination fees (legal and technical) within six months. The application filed under the PCT system is then processed after meeting all the examination requirements.
Applications filed under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property will be included after meeting all the examination requirements and a year after submitting it to the Patent Office, in line with international laws and regulations.
The patent examiner, who is specialized in the technical and legal examination of the application, is entitled to accept, amend or reject the application.
If the examiner accepts the application, an email including the acceptance letter and the fees due is sent to the applicant. After the payment of the fees for the publication of the application acceptance, an email including the number of the newspaper where the decision will be published is sent to the applicant, who must wait 60 days after publication. During this 60-day opposition period, anyone may give a notice of opposition to the patent. If no notice is filed, an email is sent instructing the applicant to pay the patent certificate issuance fees.
Once the fees are paid, an email including the number of the paper where the number of the patent certificate will be published, will be sent to the applicant, who must continue to pay the fees for a period of 20 years.
 
Information about patents
 
The Ministry provided information about patents, defining the applicant as the natural person or legal entity that holds the intellectual property right. The agent, on the other hand, is the natural person who is assigned by the owner of the intellectual property right to undertake all measures on his behalf in Qatar.
 
The inventor is a natural person who, owing to his efforts, created an invention. The inventor may be working on his own behalf or commissioned by others to create the invention, provided that the conditions for a patent including novelty, creativity and the potential for industrial application are met whether the patent relates to the product, its manufacturing method or both.
 
The Ministry noted that the patent is the certificate or official document granted by the state (Patent Office- Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department) to the inventor. The patent grants the inventor the exclusive right to commercially exploit the invention for a specified period and under specific circumstances, in accordance with the provisions of the national law and international conventions and treaties.
 
The benefits of registering a patent and legal protection for the inventor
The Ministry outlined the benefits of registering a patent and protecting the rights of the inventor to the patent in line with the law, noting that it guarantees the patent holder the right to use the invention or commercially exploit it by selling licenses to manufacture the product in the industrial field.
The patent also protects the intellectual property rights of the inventor, which cannot be waived or abolished even after the patent term expires, which is the period during which the inventor’s financial rights are protected. Others cannot prohibit the inventor from the production of the product or the use of manufacturing methods.
Other benefits also include protecting the inventor’s rights, such as the right to sell, mortgage, donate and waive his right to the patent for free or in exchange for a fee. Patent registration also protects the material rights of the inventor and patent holder throughout the patent term. Once the patent term expires, protection ceases to exist and the patent becomes public, whereby anyone can use and commercially exploit the invention without restrictions or the need to obtain a license. As an asset, a patent can also be impounded by a creditor to collect the patent holder’s debts.
 
The implication of failing to register an invention
 
The Ministry noted that the failure to register an invention will allow others to create the same invention and legally exploit it within the state.
Others could also register the invention as their own, meaning the original inventor loses the intellectual property rights to the invention for failing to register it.
In the event of a legal dispute, the original inventor will be responsible to submit proof of his right for failing to register it at the Patent Office. The original inventor will also be unable to bar others from commercially exploiting the invention.
 
Examples of the registration benefits and the disadvantages of failing to register.
 
The Ministry has provided several examples of the benefits of registering the invention and the repercussions of failing to do so in a bid to raise awareness about the importance of filing for registration at the Department of Intellectual Property Rights Protection in compliance with laws and regulations.
 
For instance, a person invented an advanced car engine two years ago, but hesitated to apply for a patent. In the meantime, another person created the same invention, devised a way to manufacture it and filed for a patent at the Patent Office. This example highlights the importance of applying for a patent first, to protect the original inventor’s right to the product.
The Ministry provided another example in which a physicist published a scientific paper in an international science magazine about water desalination using microwaves, and then applied for a patent at the Patent Office. During the technical examination of the application, the examiner found that the invention was published in the science magazine prior to the submission of the application, which violated the novelty condition to obtain a patent and led to the rejection of the application. 
 
In a third example, the ministry demonstrated the importance of registering a patent in terms of protecting the patent holder and the state’s exclusive rights to financial returns. In this case, a national research body developed a medication that can cure a dangerous disease. The medication included a chemical compound that is far more effective than current medications on the market. The new medication also had a high success rate in curing patients from a chronic disease. The research body applied to register the medication at the Patent Office. After conducting the necessary research and examining the medication, a patent certificate was issued. The research body then applied for the necessary permits to market the medication with a high cure rate at a competitive price, in addition to granting licenses for the manufacturing of the medication and securing financial returns that were allotted for more research and development.
 
In another example of the benefits of applying for a patent, an inventor created a new machine and wanted to protect his invention by applying for a patent across different states at once. His colleague advised him to visit the Patent Office to inquire about the procedures. The Office informed the inventor that he needs to register his invention under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) through the new electronic system for patent registration. He then obtained an international filing date applicable in all PCT Contracting States. The research report showed that the application is valid, enabling the inventor to proceed with the submission of his application on the national level and in countries where he wished to obtain a patent and protect his invention.
 
Patent registration fees
Students are exempt from patent registration fees, while individuals must pay 1,000 Qatari riyals. Educational and research institutions, as well as companies and organizations, must pay 2,000 Qatari riyals.
 
For technical examination fees, students must pay 100 Qatari riyals, while individuals must pay 2,500 riyals. Educational and research institutions, as well as companies and organizations, must pay 5,000 Qatari riyals.
 
For the newspaper publication fees of the patent application acceptance, students must pay 50 Qatari riyals, while individuals must pay 200 riyals. Educational and research institutions, as well as companies and organizations, must pay 400 Qatari riyals.
 
For the patent certificate issuance fees, students must pay 100 Qatari riyals while individuals must pay 1,000 riyals. Educational and research institutions, as well as companies and organizations, are charged 2,000 Qatari riyals.
 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce had launched an online service, enabling the public and intellectual property agents to file for intellectual property rights certificates through the Ministry’s website.

The launch of this service came as part of the Ministry’s efforts to continuously improve and develop its services in a bid to upgrade the Business Services System in Qatar and facilitate the delivery of services through the adoption of global best practices in the field of intellectual property. The new service also provides a high-quality integrated electronic system for authors and holders of neighboring rights in order to protect literary and artistic works in accordance with applicable laws, agreements and international treaties.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Doha Marketing Services Company W.L.L. (Domasco), dealer of Volvo vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Volvo V40 2017 model over a potential malfunction in the driver airbag.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Centre: 16000
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar   
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Al Boraq Automobiles Co. W.L.L, dealer of Porsche vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Porsche 918 Spyder model of 2015 because of a defect in the lower trailing arms fitted on the front axle.

Recalled vehicles include cars with the following Identification Number (VIN):WP0CA2917FS800115WP0CA2913FS800399WP0CA2912FS800166WP0CA2910FS800618WP0ZZZ91ZFS800052WP0ZZZ91ZFS800012WP0ZZZ91ZFS800002WP0CA2917FS800566WP0ZZZ91ZFS800171WP0ZZZ91ZFS800123WP0ZZZ91ZFS800077WP0ZZZ91ZFS800065WP0ZZZ91ZFS800475WP0ZZZ91ZFS800222WP0ZZZ91ZFS800192WP0ZZZ91ZFS800174WP0ZZZ91ZFS800606WP0ZZZ91ZFS800565WP0ZZZ91ZFS800498WP0ZZZ91ZFS800494 WP0ZZZ91ZFS800910WP0ZZZ91ZFS800892WP0ZZZ91ZFS800876
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Centre: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has recently issued its Business Progress Report on the Commerce Sector for February 2017. The report indicated the registration of 1942 new companies including 1375 new main commercial records and 567 new branch commercial records.
 
Limited liability companies accounted for 67% of new commercial records; 27% of the companies were registered in the category of Single-Person Company and 6% of the companies were registered in the category of Individual Corporations.
 
Contracting companies topped the list of most common activities in February, with 475 commercial records issued in this field. 207 commercial records were issued for restaurants and fast meal outlets while 203 commercial records were issued in the field of construction materials trading. Clothing, textiles and public goods trading followed with 144 records while 141 records were issued for cleaning services.
 
The report pointed out that 6803 total commercial licenses were issued, amended or renewed during the month of February 2017. 1445 new commercial licenses were issued while 795 were modified and 4563 commercial licenses were renewed.
 
A total number of 437 companies closed in February, representing 22.5% of newly registered companies.
 
Regarding write-off activities, textiles, clothes and public goods trading companies topped the list at 24%, followed by contracting companies at 23%. Trading in electrical and electronic appliances and computers followed in third place at 20%. Construction material trading accounted for 18% of write-offs while restaurants, fast food outlets and stores selling vegetables and fruits followed at 15%.  
 
The report has indicated that the total number of transactions that took place during February 2017 at the ministry’s headquarters in Lusail City as well as other branches reached 29919 transactions. 3280 transactions were processed at Lusail City while 26639 transactions were processed at other branches.
 
In the area of intellectual property rights, the report indicated that 40 new patent applications were issued in February 2017 while 128 patent applications were renewed.
 
In addition, 3578 trademarks have been registered during February, while 12 certificates were issued in the field of copyright and related rights.

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz E Class 2017 model because the seat frame may damage the wiring to the fuel system control unit.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has called on public and private joint stock companies with branches operating under different names and conducting activities other than the ones listed under the main branch to come forward to ensure compliance with the provisions of Law No. (20) of 2014 that introduced amendments to some provisions of Law No. 25 of 2005 regarding the commercial register.
 
Companies that come forward to the ministry’s headquarters on the second floor of Tower B in Lusail City, between March 6 and April 30, 2017, will be exempted from fees.
 
The initiative comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to provide support for commercial companies in Qatar, and to bolster the role of the private sector and its contribution to the economic development of the state in a bid to build a competitive, diversified and sustainable economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
 
The ministry noted that if the branch name is different from the main company’s name, public and private joint stock companies wishing to separate the branch and incorporate another independent company should submit a memo by the company’s chairman, his deputy or an authorized representative requesting the deletion of the branch name, along with a copy of the board of directors’ decision in this regard. The chairman or an authorized representative should also sign a notation on the commercial registration form that can be obtained from the ministry’s websitewww.mec.gov.qa, along with a copy of their personal ID.
 
In the case of a financial institution, the applicant should obtain an approval from Qatar Central Bank and meet the legal requirements for the incorporation of a new company depending on its legal structure.
 
If the branch is operating under a different name or conducting activities other than the activities of the main company, public and private joint stock companies should submit a letter by the company’s chairman, his deputy or an authorized representative

​Qatar’s interest in developing its logistics sector and bolstering its efficiency improved the country’s ranking on the Logistics Performance Index by 16 places (Qatar ranked 30th  globally in 2007, compared to 46 in 2015)The Ministry of Economy and Commerce emphasizes its keen interest in developing the logistics sector, given its important in role in the development process.The transportation sector and auxiliary transport activities generated 46.5 billion riyals in revenues in 2015, compared to 25.6 billion riyals in 2010.
 
A new study released by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has revealed remarkably strong growth in the logistic sector’s contribution to Qatar’s development. The study showed an increase in transport services and auxiliary transport activities, which account for the bulk of logistics services offered during the early years of this decade. This increase is mainly due to the attention that the state of Qatar has dedicated to a sector that represents the backbone of the majority of productive and service activities.  
The development of the necessary infrastructure for the provision of logistics services, and their increased efficiency, not only contributes to facilitating the cross-border and domestic flow of goods and services, but also reduces the overall cost incurred by different economic sectors. This ultimately bolsters the competitiveness of all these sectors and facilitates local and global economic integration.
The study comes within the framework of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s efforts to monitor national economic performance, increase the opportunities for success and tackle challenges facing the productive and services sectors.
 According to the study, the transport sector and auxiliary transport activities generated 46.5 billion riyals in revenues in 2015, compared to 25.6 billion riyals in 2010, an annual increase rate of 13%.
The study showed that the air transport sector, which represent the backbone of the tourism industry and supports a wide range of productive and service activities through shipping services, has largely contributed to an 80% growth in the total revenues of the transport sector and auxiliary transport activities. The revenues of the air transport sector currently account for nearly three-quarters of the revenues generated by the transport sector and auxiliary transports activities.
The study also revealed that the maritime transport sector, which provides services through three facilities, has also expanded its services. Total revenues grew from 3.7 billion riyals in 2010 to 6.1 billion riyals in 2015, accounting for 12% of the transport sector revenues.
The land transport sector has also expanded, with total revenues of 3.3 billion riyals, a 75% increase in revenues compared to 2010.
 
 
From right to left: Auxiliary transport activities, land transport, maritime transport, air transport
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce forecasts that demand for logistics services will continue to expand in coming years, driven by growth and expansion in other productive and service activities that depend on this sector. The expansion of the sector will also be supported by the measures taken by the state of Qatar and the implementation of projects to improve the efficiency of the sector.
For instance, Qatar is currently working on developing logistic zones across the country in a bid to supplement supply chains by establishing appropriate and effective logistics facilities at competitive prices.
The study said Qatar’s ranking on the World Bank’s biennial Logistics Performance Index is testament to the state’s successful efforts in this regard. Qatar ranked in 30th place globally and second in the Arab world on the Logistics Performance Index 2016 in terms of the competence and quality of logistics services, ahead of 130 countries worldwide—including developed economies.
The report, which the World Bank began releasing in 2007, is based on a survey of operators who provide feedback on the performance of key components of the logistics chain along six core competencies: efficiency of the clearance process; quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure; ease of arranging competitively priced shipments; competence and quality of logistics services; ability to track and trace consignments; and timeliness of shipments in reaching destination within the scheduled or expected delivery time.
The study noted that during the period from 2007-2016, Qatar has accomplished remarkable and exceptional achievements in this regard, improving the performance of its logistics services chain by about 21%. This rate exceeds the global Logistics Performance Index average growth of 5.1% from 2.74 points in 2007 to about 2.88 in 2016.
As a result of this exceptional progress, Qatar’s ranking improved from the 46th place globally in 2007 to 30th worldwide in 2016.
Within this context, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce stresses that it will continue to support the development of logistics services and improve their efficiency, which will in turn enhance the competitiveness of the various productive and service activities, and bolster the contribution of logistics activities to economic growth in the State of Qatar.
Qatar’s ranking on the Logistics Performance Index and auxiliary compenents
 
 
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S Class 2016 model because headlamps may be adjusted incorrectly and the reverse camera control module may not correspond to factory specification.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with the National Car Company, dealer of Mazda vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 models of 2008-2013 due to possible water contamination through the dust cover in the tail gate damper.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz C Class, GLC Class and S Class 2016 models because the relays in the rear fuse and relay module may not correspond to factory specification.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Mannai Trading Co. W.L.L, dealer of Subaru vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Subaru Tribeca models of 2007-2012 because of a defect in the hood safety and lock system.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
 
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with United Cars Al Mana, dealer of Dodge vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Dodge Durango, RAM models of 2004-2010 because of the driver airbag inflator housing may rupture due to excessive internal pressure, during normal airbag deployment events. This is likely to occur if the vehicle has been exposed to high levels of absolute humidity for extended periods of time.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Contact center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar

Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Qatar Automobiles Company, dealer of Mitsubishi vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mitsubishi Pajero models of 2007-2016 because of a potential defect in the driver seat airbag inflator.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them.
 
The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels:
 
Call center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
 
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Company, dealer of LEXUS vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of LEXUS NX200T model year 2015-2017 over a potential defect in brake control module software.  
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce carried out surprise inspection campaigns targeting commercial shops in Al Shamal city and Al Ruwais in a bid to monitor the compliance of the stores with law number (8) of 2008 on consumer protection.
 
The inspection campaigns fall within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in order to crack down on price manipulation and violations and protect consumer rights.
 
The inspection campaigns resulted in fining shops for failing to display prices and Arabic labels, as well as offering unlicensed discounts in violation of law number (8) of 2008 and decision number (5) of 1984 regarding discounted sales (promotions). The first and second violations resulted in fines of QR6000 while the third violation resulted in a fine of QR5000.
 
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law and its regulations, and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crackdown on violators. The ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights..
 
The ministry urges all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
 
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social networks
         – Twitter MEC_QATAR
         – Instagram MEC_QATAR

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Alfardan Automobiles, dealer of ROLLS ROYCE vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of ROLLS ROYCE GHOST  model year 2011-2012 over faulty software in airbag central sensor.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh AlHamad AlMana Company, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Maxima model year 2016 over a potential defect in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) of the rear O2 sensor.
 
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Company, dealer of Toyota vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Toyota Corolla model year 2007-2010 and Toyota Yaris model year 2009-2012 over a potential defect in  passenger side airbag inflator kit.  
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Jaidah automotive, dealer of Chevrolet vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Chevrolet Aveo model year 2016 over a potential defect in front tie-rod connected to steering gear.
 
 The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Urvan model year 2013-2016 over the possibility of oil leak from rear axle oil seal.   
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Al Fardan Automobiles, dealer of BMW vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of BMW 3 Series, 5 Series & X5 model year 2002-2005 over a potential defect in the gas generator of the driver’s airbag.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Al-Attiya Motors and Trading Co., dealer of KIA vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of KIA Optima model year 2016 due to the noise in the right front axle drive shaft.
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Saleh al Hamad al Mana Co, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Maxima model year 2016-2017 over a malfunction in the anti-lock braking system “ABS”
 
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
 
 

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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Jaidah automotive, dealer of Chevrolet vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Chevrolet: TrailBlazer and Colorado model year 2012-2016 due to the missing of the roadside kit.
                   
 
The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
 
The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
 
The ministry has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.
 
Call Center: 16001
Email: info@mec.gov.qa
Social media accounts:
Twitter: @MEC_Qatar
Instagram: MEC_Qatar
Ministry of Economy and Commerce mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar