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Hisham Aljundi
Doha
RESIDENTS of Qatar have wholeheartedly welcomed the Ministry of Economy and Commerce's (MEC) move to pull out all products made in the blockading countries or distributed by them, from Qatari market.
Talking to Qatar Tribune on Saturday, a cross-section of people including both shopkeepers and shoppers expressed satisfaction over the quick replenishing of shelves after removal of products from the siege countries with local products by malls and department stores so that the residents do not face inconvenience during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
They said that unlike last Ramadan when the blockade started and there was shortage of a few products for a short while, there is no shortage of commodities or food products this Ramadan and things are available in abundance everywhere.
They further pointed out that the MEC's move is perfectly timed as they have ensured that there is no shortage of anything despite the withdrawal of items from blockading countries and it sends a clear message to them that Qatar can meet the needs of its people on its own.
This move will further promote local products in the country.
"I have filled my cart today with fresh meat, poultry, vegetables and milk and all are of a very good quality. My children love Baladna milk," Hasina Benrachid, mother of three said.
Another shopper at Al Meera and Qatari citizen Salem al Kuwari said:"I always prefer to buy local products for its freshness and reasonable price. And on top of it all, a Qatari product is enough to make us buy it."
Another Qatari citizen Abdulaziz al Muhannadi, who was also shopping with his family, welcomed the MEC decision and also called for more such action against blockading countries."There should be total boycott of products from blockading countries. We don't need anything from them, thank God and our wise leadership, we have more than enough of goods," he added.
Yet another shopper said that the effort of the government and private sector since the start of siege is very much visible in the range of dairy products available in Qatar now."Unlike before, people are praising the diversity of products' origins and are satisfied with competitive prices," he said.
Others said that they are only consuming local products to encourage local manufacturers to produce more in order to help the country achieve self-sufficiency.
According to malls' staff they had enough items in stock to make up for the items from blockading countries.
A branch manager of Al Meera stores said that they have almost replaced all the products made in or distributed by the blockading countries with local products."We have listed all the products that are to be removed and have replaced them with mainly local and Turkish products," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, a shopper Husam Ahmed said,"To be honest, the replacement of products from the blockading countries was so fast that we hardly felt it. In fact, I am more satisfied with the quality and prices of the products now."
