Special Supplement
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Gulf blockade boosts Qatar industries T he blockade on Qatar by four Arab states has affected businesses, but also created opportunities for the country. As the diplomatic crisis began imposing a trade and travel ban on Qatar, one of the main concerns of the residents of Qatar was the access to all the products that were being imported from the blockading nations. However, the crisis turned out to be an opportunity for local producers with supermarkets storing locally produced items. Now, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in cooperation with shopping malls and large retail outlets, has unveiled the “National Product” initiative also. Under this initiative, malls and large retail outlets are displaying local products and goods bearing the slogan “National Product” prominently to facilitate consumers’ access to these products.
Qatar’s industries relied heavily on imports, most of which used to come from its blockading neighbours, but since the crisis began two months ago, Doha has investigated how it can become more self-reliant and sustainable. The blockade has sped things up instead of slowing them down. “Our orders have increased and there is an aboveproportional growth in the orders we are getting every day,” representatives of construction firms told the media, “...we are importing raw materials from Europe, from China and from the US. We have a challenge because previously the materials were coming in from Jebel Ali in the UAE.” Qatari officials say import cuts would not affect government projects. “When it comes to our projects,
Made in Qatar: Setting new
benchmarks in HVAC
A
pioneering company since its establishment in 1955, Nehmeh has been recognized for many firsts—as first importer of many aftermarket products such as automotive batteries, paints and equipment to the first & largest showrooms for woodworking and automotive solutions in the region, and first in using latest technologies for industrial service solutions. Another milestone is also being the first manufacturer of heat exchangers in Qatar. Now, with over 25 years’ experience in manufacturing and over 60 years’ of operational experience, Nehmeh is once again pioneering the local manufacturing landscape with their new range of locally manufactured Air Handling Units.
An Air Handling Unit (often abbreviated as A.H.U.) is a central air conditioner station that handles the air that usually will be supplied into the buildings through ceiling vents which is connected by duct work which is in turn connected to the A.H.U. Air quality is treated through filtering elements, cooling and/or heating, humidifying and/or dehumidifying. As the first & only manufacturer of A.H.U.’s in Qatar, Nehmeh has ensured that world-standards are followed and industry-standard accreditations have been achieved. That is why it was an important step to be certified in ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001 by merit so as to ensure Nehmeh Air Conditioners strictly follow the procedure in each stage of production for high environmental standards of its products, and manufacturing processes, amongst other accreditation that are pending. “We value the words ‘Made in Qatar’” Simon A. Nehme, CBDO says, “so much so that we have added pride into it and all our products have now become ‘proudly Made in Qatar.’” “Being a manufacturer is not being merely a workshop, neither importing & reselling items ‘as-is’ nor being an assembler of various components; we manufacture most of the elements within our Air Handling Units (A.H.U.) and
Fan Coil Units (F.C.U.). But it is also a responsibility, in terms of reputation, quality, brand, and country. That is why we do not take it lightly and we will not jeopardize any of these factors as per The Nehmeh Way, our business code,” he asserts. This is a giant leap for the cooling industry in Qatar as for the first time, to have a locally manufactured A.H.U. “We will be naturally serving our home base in Qatar but we are already in talks for distributors in the region as exports are natural growth area for us.”
Nehmeh Air Handling Units’ NRS series range from 600 CFM to 72,000 CFM with various applications including Standard CFM, Low CFM Application and 100% Fresh Air as well as Heat Recovery System and a Hygienic System. With the ability to custom-build designs in a variety of combinations to suit developers, consultants and contractors’ requirements, a software has been developed by Nehmeh entitled NehCalc AHU software able to calculate and design indoor air quality, space cooling, energy saving proposal, following Eurovent new energy regulations. Another necessary item is the Fan Coil Unit, which is also manufactured by Nehmeh under the brand NRF Fan Coil Series has designed and follows the AHRI440 standard. Nehmeh is ready to serve 200CFM to 1400CFM low static fan coil series that is suitable to operate standard cooling and district cooling applications.
when it comes to Qatar 2022, we don’t foresee any issues even if this blockade continues for 20 years, we will keep delivering,” Abdulla Hamad al-Attiyah, assistant president at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), told Al Jazeera. “That impact you have seen could have been so much stronger on our projects, but currently, we do not foresee it because a plan (was) already in place since 2014.” Al-Attiyah says that “in 2017, Ashghal has signed contracts worth more than $3.5bn.” Of that amount, $1.7bn has been signed after the blockade, he says. “What does that give you? We believe that we can deliver infrastructure construction.” “We will deliver on our commitment to the World Cup, our commitment to His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will be met one way or another.” The construction industry has been booming in preparation for the football World Cup in 2022. Large infrastructure projects are also being executed to meet the government’s development plan, the Qatar National Vision 2030. In order to fulfill that supply-and-demand cycle, businesses have stressed the importance of improved communications. “It has always been a challenge for entrepreneurs and local manufacturers to get access to knowledge, and at Qatar Development Bank, we›ve been trying to come up with initiatives,” Ibrahim Abdulaziz al-Mannai of Qatar Development Bank told Al Jazeera. “We implemented several initiatives to raise awareness of what is available in Qatar.” (Courtesy: Gulf Times reports)
MADE IN
QATAR Special Supplement Team Director – Marketing
James John
Supplement Editor
Sudip N.
Sr. Business Development Manager
Sanjai Noah Layout
A.K. Vinay Kumar Graphic Designer
Renju Varghese
Circulation Manager
Adel Hammam Printed by
Raya Commercial Printing Press