22 January 2004
DOHA: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture (MMAA) has officially awarded a contract to the Qatar Meat and Livestock (Al Mawashi) Trading Company to operate the Central Market in Doha and the proposed central markets in Al Rayyan, Umm Salal and Al Wakrah.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Department of Technical and Economic Studies at the ministry, said yesterday that the move was based on an Emiri recommendation.
Earlier this month, conflicting reports had emerged on this issue with an official from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce saying the contract was to be awarded to Al Mawashi Co, and a representative of MMAA disputing that statement.
Senior members of the elected Central Municipal Council had expressed reservations on whether such a contract would lead to a monopolisation of the markets.
Sheikh Mohammed, however, stressed yesterday that the award of the contract would not lead to a monopoly.
The task of Al Mawashi Co would be limited to general supervision of the markets and the daily auctions of fruits, vegetables and fish, he said.
On its part, the MMAA would look after health, sanitation and food safety standards at the markets, he added.
The move is intended to give a boost to the company which was listed on the Doha Securities Market late last year.
Its initial public offering had been oversubscribed by 47 times and the capital had subsequently to be doubled from QR 150m to QR 300m.
DOHA: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture (MMAA) has officially awarded a contract to the Qatar Meat and Livestock (Al Mawashi) Trading Company to operate the Central Market in Doha and the proposed central markets in Al Rayyan, Umm Salal and Al Wakrah.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Department of Technical and Economic Studies at the ministry, said yesterday that the move was based on an Emiri recommendation.
Earlier this month, conflicting reports had emerged on this issue with an official from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce saying the contract was to be awarded to Al Mawashi Co, and a representative of MMAA disputing that statement.
Senior members of the elected Central Municipal Council had expressed reservations on whether such a contract would lead to a monopolisation of the markets.
Sheikh Mohammed, however, stressed yesterday that the award of the contract would not lead to a monopoly.
The task of Al Mawashi Co would be limited to general supervision of the markets and the daily auctions of fruits, vegetables and fish, he said.
On its part, the MMAA would look after health, sanitation and food safety standards at the markets, he added.
The move is intended to give a boost to the company which was listed on the Doha Securities Market late last year.
Its initial public offering had been oversubscribed by 47 times and the capital had subsequently to be doubled from QR 150m to QR 300m.
© The Peninsula 2004
