Doha: The new offices of the Dar Al Sharq Printing, Publishing and Distribution group were formally inaugurated yesterday, at a ceremony held at the company's premises on Doha's D-Ring Road. The event was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister, H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The opening was done by H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman, Radio and TV Corporation, and Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Managing Director, Dar Al Sharq. H E Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, Minister of State, also attended the ceremony.
The ceremony started with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Jaber Al Harami, Deputy Editor in Chief, Al Sharq Arabic daily, coordinated the function. H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani raising the curtain on the main entrance of the Dar Al Sharq group's new buildings, to formally open the premises.With him are H E Sheikh Hamad bin suhaim Al Thani, Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud and other dignitaries.
Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud, General Manager, Dar Al Sharq, later gave a speech on the occasion. In his speech, the GM said: "On behalf of all my colleagues at Dar Al Sharq group, I welcome all dignitaries and invitees for the opening ceremony of our new offices. The opening ceremony is an important landmark in our quest to make Dar Al Sharq one of the leading publication houses in Qatar. This success could not have been possible if it were not for the unlimited support extended to us by our Board of Directors. The directives issued by Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of Dar Al Sharq's Board of Directors, regarding various aspects, served excellent purposes."
"All means to ensure success have been provided to us and Dar Al Sharq's efforts have been synergistic with its employees to ensure that Al Sharq ranks as the topmost newspapers in Qatar. We have state of the art printing equipment and the most modern technology. Printing presses of the Dar Al Sharq group now uses such equipment.
"The great developments in the Graphic Arts Centre has helped our printing press to hold the top rank in this industry. Dar Al Sharq now prints the Al Sharq Arabic daily, The Peninsula English daily, the Al Ufuq magazine. It also publishes 10 other magazines and other periodicals such as the International Herald Tribune, Daily Star of Lebanon, Varthamanam, an Indian newspaper and Rajdhani, a Nepalese weekly."
These international newspapers would not have entered Qatar was it not for such latest equipment that we have at Dar Al Sharq, the GM, added. He noted that the group was no distributing some 350 assorted publications in the country.
Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud, further said: "The Board of Directors had a vision to house the group's offices in a building that would reflect its successes. We take this opportunity to thank our Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, under whose leadership, the local media enjoys freedom. We also thank the Prime Minister, H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani for sponsoring this opening ceremony. We thank H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani for his valuable presence in this ceremony to open our new offices and all his efforts to remove obstacles confronting journalism in Qatar.
"Our sincere thanks also goes to Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman, Dar Al Sharq and Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Managing Director, for their continuing support and efforts to promote the group in all fields."
He also thanked all earlier directors, chief editors and employees who exerted efforts that helped Dar Al Sharq gain such a prime position. He also thanked the former GM, Abbas Al Mulla, during whose tenure, the new offices were constructed and commissioned informally. "What we see now is all his work," he said.
Following the speech, Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al Thani presented a memento to Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani. Another memento was presented by Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud to Khalid bin Thani Al Thani.
The souvenirs were given away to mark the occasion. A documentary that highlighted the various achievements of the Dar Al Sharq group over the past 19 years, was later screened to the dignitaries and invitees.
Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Khalid bin Thani Al Thani and Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud later formally opened the offices by raising a curtain at the main entrance.
The dignitaries and attendees then toured the new offices and were briefed about the various facilities by senior officials of Dar Al Sharq.
Among some prominent personalities who attended yesterday's event were Mohammad bin Khalid Al Mana, Chairman, Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Waddah Khanfar, Managing Director, Al Jazeera Channel, Sheikha Al Juffeiri, Member, Central Municipal Council and others.
A dinner was later held for the invitees and employees at a giant, purpose built tent that was erected outside the new offices.
© The Peninsula 2006
