File picture used for representation only.
Qatar has launched first private sector pisciculture project to produce fish with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year.
The Ministerial Group for the Encouragement and Participation of the Private Sector in the Economic Development Projects of the State, chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, announced the launch of the pisciculture project .
The Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at the Ministry of Municipalities and Environment Sheikh Dr Falih bin Nasser Al Thani yesterday said a national company from private sector has been selected to run the first fish farming project.
The company won the bid for which a group of investors competed. It has also been granted land in the Industrial Area of Al Shamal so that it can run its operations. The company will produce 2,000 tonnes of local fish annually for the local market.
Dr Falih pointed out that Qatar’s self-sufficiency for fish will increase after implementation of the remaining two projects. The three will increase the fish producion in the country to 6,000 tonnes and the entire stock will be supplied to local markets.
He pointed out that it was decided to add a separate project for prawn farming which would be first of its kind in Qatar.
The technical committee at the ministerial group is about to float tender for these projects for private sector in near future.
The project is the first of a series of similar projects in various sectors that the State has planned to implement in line with the directives of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and in accordance to the recommendations made by the Technical Committee of the Ministerial Group.
As well as part of the Government’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in food and agricultural products including meats and other animal and food industry.
