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Satyendra Pathak
Doha
Qatar is receiving better-quality construction materials at lower prices from a number of sources despite the ongoing Saudi-led blockade, a senior official of Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said.
Ashghal Planning and Quality Department Manager Jamal Sharida al Kaabi told Qatar Tribune that the blockade opened better channels and better markets for Qatar to import construction materials.
"Earlier we had to follow the GCC specifications and standardisation with a very limited number of suppliers. When we went out of that confine, we found an open market. We are no longer governed by the GCC specifications. Now, we follow international specifications and standards. We have also created our own specifications and standards to ensure that we get better-quality materials with better specifications and at better prices," Kaabi said.
"I believe the blockade has worked in favour of Qatar, not against it," he said.
Kaabi said government agencies like Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC), as well as the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), have been working overtime to ensure that there is adequate stock of construction materials in the country.
The MEC has set up a special committee for procuring adequate quantity of construction materials from a number of alternative sources, he said.
"We can't say that there is just one agency involved. There are several parties that are involved in securing materials for the construction sector in Qatar," he said.
Highlighting the vital role played by local suppliers in bringing construction materials to Qatar, he said,"With the opening of new markets, there are more varieties of products available to us now. This has created competition in the local market which is a very healthy sign. This is something which we have not seen before. The market is more competitive now."
Kaabi said that not even a single project of Ashghal has been affected due to the blockade."In the beginning, there were some concerns about finding alternative sources. But the action was fast. The action to develop alternative sources was taken at the highest level. In the beginning, there were some obstacles, but we had enough materials in the storage. We overcame the obstacle soon," he said.
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23/09/2018
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