Qatar Business

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani conducted a field visit yesterday to a number of factories operating in the construction and building sector, as well as the metal industries sector, in the Small and Medium Industries Zone. The visit comes as part of the Ministry’s ongoing follow-up on developments in the national industrial sector and its efforts to assess the status of factories and their needs, in a manner that supports their development plans and enhances their growth. During the tour, His Excellency reviewed the key products offered by the factories, their production capacity levels, and operational processes, in addition to the modern technologies used in production lines and their role in improving efficiency and product quality. He also listened to briefings on the factories’ future expansion and development plans aimed at strengthening their competitiveness in local and regional markets. At the conclusion of the visit, the Minister of Commerce and Industry affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continuing its support for the industrial sector as one of the main pillars of economic diversification. This is in line with the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy and the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy, through developing the industrial business environment, providing incentives and facilitation to investors, and simplifying procedures, thereby contributing to attracting industrial investments and supporting the growth of national industries.

World Business

Doha, Qatar: Asia spot LNG rose for a third week on Friday to hold at a nine-week high, as colder temperatures lifted heating demand in the Northern Hemisphere and as US export loadings eased earlier last week. The average LNG price for February delivery into north-east Asia was $11.60 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), up from $11.35 per mmBtu the week before, noted Al-Attiyah Foundation in its Weekly Energy Market Review. In Europe, the Dutch TTF gas price settled at $13.66 per mmBtu, posting a weekly gain of 14.22%. Europe is experiencing higher year-on-year gas demand, and although LNG send-out remains robust, elevated storage withdrawals are increasing pressure on the system, analysts said. Meanwhile oil prices dipped a few cents per barrel on Friday, consolidating recent gains and holding near six-month highs on Friday, supported by ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. Brent crude futures settled at $70.69, and US. West Texas Intermediate crude finished at $65.21. For the week, Brent rose 7.3%, while WTI gained 6.8%.

Qatar Business

Doha, Qatar:In boardrooms worldwide, contracts are signed with optimism, yet value often slips away unnoticed. Studies show that enterprises lose 8% to 10% of contract value annually amounting to millions on major projects through weak contract management, lack of understanding of all clauses, missed obligations, fragmented data, repudiation of claims, and manual errors. CALIM, a Consultancy and Technology Services company primarily based out of Doha, Qatar is poised to address this chronic challenge with CALIM360, the MENA region’s possibly industry-first, intelligent and Blockchain secured Contracts Management Platform purpose-built for all sectors including construction, EPC, infrastructure, energy sectors etc. in particular. At the heart of CALIM360 is a centralized contract intelligence hub that transforms contracts from static documents into intelligent assets. AI-driven draft builders generate bilingual contracts in minutes, secured by Blockchain Hyperledger Fabric network. Real-time collaboration tools enable multiple stakeholders to review and negotiate simultaneously. Smart correspondence engines assist in drafting intelligent correspondences and ensure centralized repository while comprehensive dashboards provide visibility for proactive decision-making. CALIM360 is the brainchild of industry veterans - Dr. Varghese Koshy Panicker, who brings nearly four decades of expertise in contract strategy and infrastructure oversight across the GCC, Jayakumar Madapattu, the platform’s legal and compliance framework anchor with deep regional experience,Davis Varghese, a veteran of global digital transformation programs, who oversees Technology Innovation & Delivery, and Tins Varghese, who spearheads Commercial strategy, partnerships and investor relations. Phase one of the platform which includes Intelligent Contracts Management Platform has been beta launched as of January 2026, with advanced Tendering, Bid analysis, Project management, DPR, Claims intelligence, Variation management, and Close-out modules planned throughout 2026. The platform is designed to serve B2B enterprises including construction firms, infrastructure developers, oil & gas companies, consultants etc. alongside B2C professionals such as project managers, quantity surveyors, commercial engineers etc. Initial rollout targets Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE before wider GCC expansion. Future enhancements include third-party integrations. In an environment where single oversights can derail billion-dollar projects, CALIM360 represents a competitive necessity as the only comprehensive ConTech solution in the regional market, notes the founding team. The founding team is prepared to debut CALIM360’s high-impact value proposition at the Doha Web Summit 2026. Besides Qatar, CALIM has operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India andSri Lanka. www.calim360.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: +974- 3368 8000