(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Lani Rose R Dizon/ The Peninsula
It's business as usual for both merchants and consumers attending the second edition of the Doha Trade Fair 2020 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). The 10-day event, which opened on Thursday, is considered to be the first ever exhibition which opened to the public after the Qatari government has lifted the restrictions on public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For many of the visitors, life must go on amid the pandemic. And for merchants, the trade fair offers them a boost of confidence that better business is coming. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event yesterday, Hassan Joumah, Executive Manager of Qatar Marketers, one of the organisers for the event, said around 30,000 people have already visited the trade fair since it opened last week.
'Around 5,000 to 6,000 visitors are coming daily. So far, around 30,000 people have already visited the trade fair. And we take the security of everyone very seriously. Customers without Etheraz and face mask are not allowed inside. This is the first exhibition after six months, and we're seeing too many customers. About 90 percent of the customers are Qataris. We're hoping that this edition of Doha Trade Fair will even exceed the success of the previous event, Joumah added.
About 170 Doha-based shops are participating at the event. The exhibition features local and international products, including clothes, fabrics, leather, antiques, gift items, women's abayas, shoes, various household items, furnishings, carpets, as well as food products from honey to spices, and many more. The items come from 15 different countries including China, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Pakistan, and many more, said Joumah. Ibrahim Khaddoj, Manager at Al Mehbaj Al Doha Trading, has been operating his shop for 12 years now in Doha.
Originally from Lebanon, Khaddoj has been participating at the Doha Trade Fairs for many years now, but this is the first time he is exhibiting at the DECC. At the trade fair, Khaddoj is busy entertaining customers with his son. His shop sells various food products, such as dried fruits, nuts, Arabic sweets, zatar, tea, and coffee, which he imports from various countries.
'We're having more customers now, after a long time that there have been no exhibitions. We feel that this exhibition is even getting better response compared to previous exhibitions which were held when the pandemic was just starting. People have now adjusted compared to when the COVID-19 was just starting about a year ago. Visitors are not as afraid anymore. The trade fair is a good opportunity to help local businesses like us to recover from the pandemic, added Khaddoj.
Amna, a financial expert working at the Ministry of Finance, has come to the trade fair to look for her favourite mixed cheeses. 'It's actually difficult to socialise in public places again after a long time of staying at home. I feel a little bit apprehensive about it. But I think life must go on. Also, we have hand sanitisers, face mask, and we practice social distancing. Life has to continue. Today, I'm coming for cheeses. I like the mixed cheese they sell here every year and I'm planning to buy a new one. I like the mixed cheese from Lebanon, she added.
The Doha Trade Fair is open everyday from 10am to 10pm, and from 2pm to 11pm on Friday.
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