LuLu Group hosts Asean Festival

The event also highlights the strong economic relations, as well as other fields of co-operation, between Qatar and the Asean nations.Running until December 16, the recently launched festival at LuLu Hypermarket, Abu Sidra branch, was inaugurated by the ambassadors and charge d’affaires of different Asean countries in Doha - representing Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The envoys of China and Australia were also present at the ceremony.Guests of honour included Max Tunon, head of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Project Office in Qatar, and others representing the embassies of Asean countries, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Qatar Chamber.The festival offers more than 160 varieties of fruits and vegetables, together with grocery, deli hot and cold items, ice-creams, chips, candies, biscuits, coffee, dry fruits, canned foods, beverages, and frozen food items such as fish fillet and processed fish products, sauces, chicken franks, chicken breast and pastries, among others, from the Asean countries. A wide range of health and beauty, and household items are also available on shelves at “competitive prices”. Special counters allow customers and foodies to taste the fruits and different varieties of food items, in addition to offering discounts on a wide range of imported products from Asean countries.“Over the years, we have enjoyed excellent support and co-operation from each of your embassies. Asean countries are playing a vital role in the food safety and we are looking forward to co-operate more with our partners from the Asean region to accelerate the imports and to further strengthen our relationship,” LuLu Group director Dr Mohamed Althaf said, adding that the event was a timely effort at promoting Asean food products in Qatar.The festival has become popular in Qatar since 2010 as the volume of imports have increased substantially. It largely focuses on food and non-food products, and the culinary heritage of the East.Organisers noted that “the collective efforts of the embassies of Southeast Asian countries were to promote products of Asean origin in the Qatari market”.LuLu’s management has been importing products from Asean countries for more than two decades to Qatar. With this festival, the company intends to further promote Asean products through its stores in the country.Speaking at the event, Indonesian ambassador and Asean Committee in Doha chairman Ridwan Hassan said: “The 10 countries of Asean enjoy good relations with Qatar, underpinned by co-operation spanning the political, cultural and especially economic sectors. Economic co-operation and engagement remain the cornerstone of Asean-Qatar ties.“We can see that in 2020, the volume of trade between Qatar and Asean countries amounted to over $9bn. Qatar is also a key investor in Asean countries with investments in the energy (including alternative energy), financial, real estate, telecommunications, agribusiness, hospitality and medical sectors.The envoy noted that around 300,000 Southeast Asian nationals have made Qatar their second home as they continue to contribute significantly in the country’s economic sectors, as well as their countries.He said the Asean economy is expected to rebound 5% annually – despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic – and forecast to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030. While Qatar, Hassan said, “emerged as a significant political player in the region, as he expressed confidence that Asean – Qatar relations in the future would grow stronger".“And Lulu – with plenty of outlets both in Qatar and Asean countries – has been playing its part in achieving that goal."LuLu, with 16 state-of-the-art stores operating in Qatar, is continuously exerting efforts to provide and sustain the supply of global products at the best rates.