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• The initiative will contribute to creating a continuous balance throughout the year between supply and demand and reduce the high local price of fish during the inappropriate climatic conditions .
• The implementation of three projects for fish farming in floating cages along three northern marine sites where each project covers an area of 90 hectares, with a production capacity of not less than two thousand tons per year for each project.
•The implementation of a project for fish farming and aquaculture along the  coastal site of El Arish area which covers an area of 111 hectares, with production capacity of not less than one thousand tons per year.
The Technical Committee for the Promotion of Private Sector Engagement within the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment announced its attention to launch an initiative that involves establishing four fish farming and aquaculture projects which comes as part of the special initiatives of the Committee to increase self-sufficiency ratio in certain sectors related to food security.
The initiative comes as part of the efforts of the state competent authorities, according to the joint coordination mechanisms that allows the Committee to work on the development of initiatives that support the diversification of the national economy and consolidate the leadership of the private sector for national projects in sectors related to food security to be able then to strengthen national capacities in the field of agricultural, animal and fish production, in the framework of sustainable environmental system that ensures the transition to high efficient production while maintaining the national capabilities of the soil, water and energy consumption and protection of irrational consumption.
The Committee aimed to launch the initiative regarding the implementation of four projects for fish farming and aquaculture by the private sector, so that the total production capacity of these projects will not be less than 7 thousand tons per year of fish and aquatic organisms, distributed as follows:The implementation of a project for aquaculture along the  coastal site of El Arish area which covers an area of 111 hectares, with production capacity of not less than one thousand tons per year so that the project reaches its maximum production capacity within 42 months.The implementation of three projects for fish farming and aquaculture through floating cage system within the deep water in the northern part of the state with a total area of 270 hectares where each project covers an area of 90 hectares,  and with a production capacity of not less than two thousand tons per year for each project so that the three projects reach their maximum production capacity within 36 months
 
The Technical Committee is seeking to stimulate private sector participation in economic development projects through these projects to increase domestic fish production to meet the continuing increase in the demand, and work to provide high quality and competitive products.
It should be noted that both fish farming and aquaculture are one of the most active production systems that contribute to the increase in domestic production and is characterized by the ability to control the climatic factors to provide optimal conditions for farming in order to achieve mass production of the desired products in the state with a high quality throughout the year, along with improving the quality of production and reducing the waste.
The project aims to reduce the gap between the supply and demand of the domestic market of high quality products of both fish and shrimp  and develop a strategic stock of them with competitive prices  by the private sector, through achieving the highest production rates in accordance with the best practices and global available technology to guarantee the achievement of economic feasibility which encourages continuous  production and development, which will positively impact the state economic growth rates in the field of fisheries.
The Committee will work to provide   a competitive business environment with fair policies for all investors and private sector companies, in the framework of a strong partnership between government and private sector, which will contribute to supporting food security projects through the advancement of its different sectors.
According to the project’s launching policies, the Committee, in coordination with the competent authorities-will be responsible for delivering all the necessary facilities for the implementation of the four projects, and facilitating the procurement of the necessary and required approvals, permits and licenses from the concerned authorities in accordance with the state law.
Such projects  also come in the framework of a series of initiatives launched by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, through the Committee, and in coordination with the competent authorities, to encourage national investment in all economic development sectors, particularly in the area of food security, and work to increase self-sufficiency ratio for a number of targeted sectors, where the Committee is currently working on, and reduce the gap between the supply and demand in the domestic market, and secure strategic stocks for a  number of products.
The projects  upon implementation represent an added value to the local production of fish products, and an important step in the path of achieving the objectives of the Committee and its competencies, through the formulation of integrated initiatives both technically and economically that are able to lead the participation of the private sector in the development of targeted sectors, and develop practical and scientific solutions to face the challenges of national food security in all dimensions and sectors, through a  full transparent framework, according to the directives of the comprehensive  development vision; “Qatar National Vision 2030”  and national development strategy.
This initiative comes as part of the keenness of the Committee to confront the national food security challenges through developing economic policies that are capable of dealing with the requirements of international and regional trade, and creating a state of stability in the food chain supply, regardless of the continuous fluctuations that impact food trading.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce tends to coordinate with the competent authorities to build a system capable of achieving all the needs and requirements in order to achieve national food security. In addition, the ministry tends to visualize perceptions regarding rational exploitation of natural limited resources and good management skills for the infrastructure and the operation of the projects, through working according to specific programs to raise the added- value sectors of food security in the gross domestic product, diversify sources of income and increase its contribution to the internal and external trade.
The ministry also seeks from launching such  initiatives to contribute to the introduction and localization of modern, integrated technologies in various production, manufacturing and marketing stages, which will stimulate the investment climate for food security in the country, and create promising investment opportunities to the private sector of Qatar, and result in an economic, social and logistical development in the field of food security, which will then increase the GDP of the various sectors of food security.
In the context of building an integrated system along the supply chain of food products, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce is working in coordination with the competent authorities to provide integrated logistical services for all parties concerned with food security, as it works on establishing a number of supermarkets,  providing adequate storage space and facilitating business establishment procedures .
In the framework of the keenness of the Technical Committee to stimulate private sector participation in economic development projects, the Committee launched an opinion poll for all entrepreneurs who are interested to invest in the sector and all stakeholders, in order to stand on the visuals of the private sector regarding the types and varieties of aquatic organisms that can be farmed in these projects, and how to achieve good production rates , and the cost of the capital needed for the establishment of these farms for aquaculture and fish farming in accordance with proposed areas of modern technologies that were previously mentioned.
The introduction of the opinion poll for the proposed projects comes as part of the keenness of the Technical Committee to broaden the participation in the preparation of implementation mechanisms for such projects  through  conducting an opinion poll on the views of entrepreneurs who are interested to invest in the private sector, and all stakeholders, regarding  the appropriateness of  establishing  such projects within their allocated space and the proposed technologies that suit the climatic conditions of the country, which are crucial for food security. It is worth mentioning that their participation is of a great interest to the Committee especially when developing the final perceptions of presenting the project to the private sector.
In addition, the poll will reflect the opinion of the interested entrepreneurs regarding the ability to reach full production capacity specified for each project based on the proposed schedule for these projects, and their vision about the degree of competitiveness for such products, in terms of quality and price, for both domestic and imported products. The poll will also contain other questions that tend to view the opinion of the participants which are considered a place of great interest by the Committee especially when developing the final perceptions of presenting the project to the private sector.
It is worth noting that the Technical Committee for the Promotion of Private Sector Engagement in Economic Development Projects, is a sub-committee of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce where several representatives from different government agencies participate through its membership including: the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Municipal and Environment, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Transport and Communications, the State Audit Bureau (as an observer), Public Works Authority, Economic Zones Company “MANATEQ”, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation “KAHRAMAA”, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar Chamber. The Committee focuses on stimulating the participation of the private sector in economic development projects, through proposing projects that engage both government and private sectors, and suggesting ways to support and stimulate the private sector through necessary standards and regulations, necessary land allocation policies and policies for tenders and auctions for such projects and supervising their implementation