Qatar has set the bar high in terms of building ‘green’ and smart cities as evidenced by Msheireb Downtown District and Lusail City, according to Indian entrepreneur, Druv Chandra.
“Smart city is a nice buzzword; however, most people are just talking about it. But in Qatar, they have done it. There is great vision by the leadership. Qatar is such a small country when you compare it to so many other places but I feel like there is a great push towards sustainable living,” said Chandra, the owner and director of The Carpet Cellar, which is located inside the Msheireb Downtown District in Doha.
Chandra told Gulf Times, “Qatar is setting the standards of what a sustainable green city should be like. I don’t see many cities around the world that could match what was built in Doha. The proof is in the pudding; it is already here for people to see.
“And I believe more things will happen in Qatar in the years to come, not just the FIFA World Cup in 2022 because there has been a lot of infrastructure that was built and would be utilised for so many events, as well.”
With many economic activities in the pipeline, Chandra said Qatar “is eager to prove itself” to the international community as an investment destination the way the State demonstrated its resiliency during the June 2017 economic blockade.
“The blockade has proven how strong the people are and how resilient the country is against adversity. When adversity hits you, I always believe that these things are great for you when you have a little hiccup because it makes you stronger; it makes you get up and get out of your comfort zone and try and prove certain things to other people,” he emphasised.
Chandra explained that Qatar’s thrust towards sustainable living is also “sinks in” with The Carpet Cellar’s philosophy. “We don’t want to create fads and trends, but rather something that is timeless and has value – something that you can pass on to the next generation,” he stressed.
He also believes that there is a lot of synergy between Qatar and India in terms of trade and expertise, as well as in culture and tradition.
“There is so much that Qatar is importing that India manufactures. We have many people who are extremely skilled; we have a great IT sector and so many areas of expertise, which can play a role in helping each other. In years to come as we build more partnerships and as we get to know more people, I’m sure it will be a ‘win-win’ for both countries,” Chandra pointed out.
“Smart city is a nice buzzword; however, most people are just talking about it. But in Qatar, they have done it. There is great vision by the leadership. Qatar is such a small country when you compare it to so many other places but I feel like there is a great push towards sustainable living,” said Chandra, the owner and director of The Carpet Cellar, which is located inside the Msheireb Downtown District in Doha.
Chandra told Gulf Times, “Qatar is setting the standards of what a sustainable green city should be like. I don’t see many cities around the world that could match what was built in Doha. The proof is in the pudding; it is already here for people to see.
“And I believe more things will happen in Qatar in the years to come, not just the FIFA World Cup in 2022 because there has been a lot of infrastructure that was built and would be utilised for so many events, as well.”
With many economic activities in the pipeline, Chandra said Qatar “is eager to prove itself” to the international community as an investment destination the way the State demonstrated its resiliency during the June 2017 economic blockade.
“The blockade has proven how strong the people are and how resilient the country is against adversity. When adversity hits you, I always believe that these things are great for you when you have a little hiccup because it makes you stronger; it makes you get up and get out of your comfort zone and try and prove certain things to other people,” he emphasised.
Chandra explained that Qatar’s thrust towards sustainable living is also “sinks in” with The Carpet Cellar’s philosophy. “We don’t want to create fads and trends, but rather something that is timeless and has value – something that you can pass on to the next generation,” he stressed.
He also believes that there is a lot of synergy between Qatar and India in terms of trade and expertise, as well as in culture and tradition.
“There is so much that Qatar is importing that India manufactures. We have many people who are extremely skilled; we have a great IT sector and so many areas of expertise, which can play a role in helping each other. In years to come as we build more partnerships and as we get to know more people, I’m sure it will be a ‘win-win’ for both countries,” Chandra pointed out.
