DOHA: In a major initiative to reduce Qatar’s heavy dependence on imported dairy products, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce is working on an ambitious project to produce milk and associated products locally.
The full-fledged dairy project will be awarded to the private sector and has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment.
The Ministry is currently preparing to invite bids from competent private companies to execute the project, which is expected to be launched next month.
The government has allotted 62,000sqm of land for the project, besides another 500 hectares for production of fodder to support the livestock, Al Sharq reported. Green fodder will be cultivated using treated water.
The project aims to produce 20,000 tonnes of milk annually, which is sufficient to meet a major portion of the local demand. Currently, products of Saudi- based dairy companies are dominating the Qatari market causing supply shortages with any disruption in imports.
The project is expected to reach its full production capacity in three years after start up.
The project comes as part of the food security programme of the ministry being implemented with support and participation of the private sector.
Recently, the ministry awarded the first contract to a Dar Al Rayyan for Investment to set up a QR1.3bn poultry project in Qatar.
This project seeks to promote self sufficiency in poultry products by producing 40,000 tonnes of chicken and 7,500 tonnes of eggs annually. This alone will be enough to meet 38 percent of the local demand for chicken and 26 per cent of the demand for eggs.
As for the proposed dairy project, the ministry is currently conducting a survey among potential private investors to get their views and suggestions. The tender will be invited after completion of this survey, said the daily.
The ministry conducted a similar interaction with 23 private companies last year, before announcing the bid for the poultry project, which has now been awarded.
In the meantime, the technical committee at the ministry will open online registration for interested companies from October 20, said the daily.
The Peninsula
