Local farms in Qatar, as well as other companies in the country, stand to gain from an upcoming exhibition on self-sufficiency, which aims to bring in expertise and innovative technologies from more than 10 countries.
Poised as a “first-of-its-kind” event, the ‘Qatar Self-Sufficiency Exhibition 2018’ (QSSE) will serve as an interface into how the country is building for a “courageous and stimulating future” with an innovative and diversified national economy “through the bold and visionary leadership of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” said event organiser, HiSky Tourism and Exhibitions chairman Abdulrahman al-Obaidly.
Al-Obaidly said QSSE is scheduled to be held on April 1-3, 2018 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre and will attract more than 120 leading local, regional, and international production line manufacturers from more than 10 countries representing sectors like the food industry, healthcare, agriculture, heavy industry, manufacturers of raw materials such as wood and plastic, as well as recycling and sustainability.
Participating countries include Kuwait, Lebanon, the UK, Turkey, Spain, the US, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Iran, China, and Japan, among others, and will highlight the range of opportunities available for overseas entities to contribute to Qatar’s future.
On the local front, al-Obaidly said the “main supporters” of QSSE are Qatari companies which have been invited to participate in the exhibition. Similarly, invitations were extended to farms all over the country, he pointed out.
“The local companies enrich this exhibition but the main aim is to also have international companies that provide production lines for them, especially for firms that are looking to produce locally.
“In Qatar, there are more than 300 productive farms but the main idea of the exhibition is to provide them with production lines to develop their capacity and raise their production locally. Also, the organisers did not forget the feedstock sector,” al-Obaidly told Gulf Times.
During the press conference, al-Obaidly said the inaugural QSSE will present industry leaders, production line manufacturers, and decision makers with the “perfect platform” to demonstrate how they are contributing to shaping the country’s “dynamic future.” 
Exhibitors that serve the manufacturing sector, logistics and shipping, and financial sector entities, specifically those financing projects, will also be present at the show.
In addition to attracting established industry players, the exhibition will host foreign investors and entities eager to get a foothold in the Qatari market and contribute to the “rapidly-evolving economic landscape and the bold future direction of the country.”
HiSky for Tourism and Exhibitions CEO Youssef Ahmed Taher said: “In addition to providing a platform for exhibitors to showcase their latest innovations, QSSE will serve as a conduit for industry and manufacturing powerhouses to share expertise, knowledge, ideas, and vision on how collective contributions can be enhanced in the interests of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
“Under the QNV 2030 plan, Qatar’s inspirational leadership has already embarked on positive steps to diversify the economy away from a reliance on fossil fuels, with a vast range of continued investments spanning the full spectrum of sectors.” 
He added that the exhibition will place a strong emphasis on the key pillars of the QNV 2030 with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, excellence in healthcare and education, infrastructure, efficiency of public services, and transparent governance.