Imad Murad - Doha
The Qatar Chamber has launched an initiative called "Takatof" to reduce the economic impacts resulting from the precautionary measures taken by Qatar to protect citizens and residents from infection with the Corona virus.
The initiative aims to provide in-kind support to contribute to providing governmental requirements and needs related to the precautionary measures related to the Corona virus crisis, as well as to support small companies affected by these measures and other ramifications, in cooperation with the relevant government agencies.
The Qatar Chamber has prepared an electronic form that companies wishing to support this initiative can access via the Chamber's website through their smartphones, and fill out this form. The Chamber will act as a mediator and a link between the companies supporting the initiative and the beneficiaries of this support.
According to the Chamber, in-kind support will go to contribute to the government needs imposed by tackling the spread of the Corona virus, as well as the private sector support for small companies whose owners face many challenges such as rental costs and other challenges.
| Qatar Chamber President Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani calls for solidarity and cooperation to make the initiative a success (Al Jazeera Net) |
Commenting on the initiative, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, President of the Qatar Chamber, said that the economic impacts resulting from precautionary measures require everyone to join hands and cooperate to overcome them. Therefore, the Chamber’s initiative came in order to involve businessmen and major companies in providing in-kind support to contribute to providing government needs related to these. Procedures, whether it is logistical support or the provision of materials and other requirements, as well as supporting small companies that have stopped their work due to precautionary measures, by providing exemptions from rents or any other form of support that assigns these companies to bypass these buzzes Of.
The President of the Chamber added that the Takatuf initiative witnessed a positive interaction by business owners and companies, and the first day of the initiative witnessed about 20 companies filling the in-kind support model, expected that the Takatof initiative will witness more demand from business owners in the coming days.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim stressed that the Chamber represents the link between business owners and private sector companies participating in the initiative and the government agencies that direct support in accordance with the requirements of precautionary measures.
| Professor of Economics at Qatar University, Rajab Al-Ismail assures that small and medium-sized companies are the core of any global economy (Al-Jazeera Net) |
For his part, Rajab Al-Ismail, professor of economics at Qatar University, said in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net that it is necessary to encourage such initiatives that are in the interest of small investors in the country, considering that small and medium-sized companies are the core of any global economy and immediate action must be taken to mitigate any negative effects that affect this. The important sector, it is expected that the initiative will join forces with a great positive impact, especially in light of this difficult circumstance that the entire world is living and aware of its risks for everyone.
Ismail expects a large participation in this initiative, by the movement of a large part of the business sector in Qatar and his response to the crisis. The major in these initiatives is in its direct interest. Keeping the small investors is a big priority for the big companies.
And Ismail considered that the embargo imposed on Qatar nearly three years ago benefited the country a lot as it gave the country's economy sufficient immunity in dealing with crises, noting that just as the country has overcome the siege crisis in a very short period, it will surely overcome the economic effects that the Corona virus will have.