Productive families given all support, says official

The Ministry of Social Development and Family has given productive families all support to further develop their businesses based on merits and in an unbiased and integral manner, Najat al-Abdalla, director of the Family Affairs Department, has said. She told local Arabic daily 'Arrayah' that around 109 productive families have been registered as participants in the Communities' Markets project -- the beneficiaries of which were selected through a random draw.

Najat al-Abdalla

The Communities' Markets include 27 shops for the benefit of productive families, where they can display various products such as Abayas, children's outfits, women's garments, traditional textile, spices, coffee, gifts, jewellery, pottery and perfumes, besides restaurants and cafes. She explained that the project is considered as an incubator to support the household projects for two years. During the first year they can work through a household project licence and they will be trained and qualified to move to the next phase of being business entrepreneurs. Accordingly, to continue with the project for the second year they need to have a commercial licence as in this phase the product will be developed into a commercial item. The project is one of the tools to realise Qatar National Vision 2030. Al-Abdalla stressed that the department is very keen to make the productive families diversify their products based on field studies about the actual needs of the local market. The department is constantly advising these families to select the best materials for their products, reduce their retail prices and make good promotions to attract more customers. She added that the department is also keen to make these families and other business entrepreneurs take part in the various events held in the country.