Qatar is investing in its own locally produced Resh Cut Flowers in the Desert. Will They Succeed?

Flowers are very popular in Qatar; The Home To The Largest Middle East News Network Satellite Station, Al Jazeera Which is a popular World news station. Qatar is a net Importer of flowers and this is expected to grow. However with money and the right technologies; Qatar; In the future may reduce their imports and may not remain so dependent. Shipping Wholesale Flowers To Qatar; The Home To Al Jazeera

Fresh Cut Flowers Growing in the Desert – Qatar ambitious Program

Qatar is investing in its own locally produced flowers and they are building farms in the desert with the help of the French. Out in the desert, about 30km west of Doha; At the request of the emir of Qatar, Hamad Ben Khalifa al-Thani, the French are producing 4m flowers a year with a workforce of 60, mainly from Nepal and India. Despite the huge capital and cutting-edge technology that is needed to make this a success, Qatar has an ambitious plans to grow fresh cut flowers, fruit, tomatoes, peppers and all sorts of vegetables to reduce its imports. This is in par with the Qatari Government Strategy and vision 2030.

Qatar has been an net importer of not only flowers but also many vegetables and fruits. The wholesale market in Doha, which occupies several vast buildings, offers ample proof of this. Lorries unload aubergines from Saudi Arabia, apples from Lebanon and China, tomatoes from the Netherlands, bananas from the Philippines and strawberries from Egypt. Meat and cereals are also imported.

This refocusing on local production doesnt mean Qatar is giving up buying abroad. Qatar support international trade but also believe in climate change and its consequences on agriculture.

Lessons to Learn from Qatar Approach

Reviewing other leading flower producing countries, we found that external factors like climate, currency exchange rates and oil price fluctuations have had a major impact on their competitiveness. On the other hand, the existence of an enabling business environment is an absolute precondition for the industrys success in the current highly competitive flower industry, which is characterised by increasing internationalisation and highly dynamic market conditions. Important lessons are:

• 1. A sound regulatory environment: Growers worldwide consider compliance with local laws and regulations important and positive. Countries have put considerable efforts in reducing paperwork and bureaucratic overhead.
• 2. Critical role of knowledge and innovation: Costs are rising in all leading producer countries. Growers look for ways to increase productivity and efficiency. Innovation is encouraged through grant schemes, tax relief on research and development spending, specific technical assistance, or
• government support to an active floricultural research programme.
• 3. National coordination and cooperation: Competition from other supplying countries in Kenyas main markets is increasing. The real challenge and source of future success lies in a nationally coordinated approach.
• 4. Infrastructure and logistics: Recognition of the importance of a competitive logistics infrastructure. Local transportation and infrastructure including telecommunication has much improved in competing countries.

Qatar is known for its expansive beautiful deserts, lavish hotels and buildings, High end products and mostly Al Jazeera, the largest Middle East News network. A real challenge and source of future success if we learn and play.

It is very important to mention that Eagle-Link Flowers is here to meet the needs and fulfill the markets expectations, that is why we need to retain or strengthen our competitiveness in the global flower markets.