Shoppers at this year’s summer edition of Doha Trade Fair can rest assured there would be no overpricing as authorities regularly monitor prices of goods sold in the stalls, say organisers.
“The Ministry of Business and Trade has set up an office here to check the prices,” said Jaber Al Mansouri, Chief Executive Officer of Maraya Public Relations, co-organisers of the fair.
Al Mansouri was speaking to media after the opening of the 11-day fair yesterday at the Doha Exhibition Center (DEC).
The fair offers a wide array of products ranging from fashion and accessories and household products to perfumes and cosmetics and food. Prices of goods, Al Mansouri said, range from as cheap as QR10 to over QR1,000 depending on the product. “The Municipal Ministry is also here to check on food products, specifically on the expiration date and quality of the products,” he said.
Doha Trade Fair 2013 occupies a total of 18,000sqm, with 15,000sqm allotted for the exhibition and 3,000sqm for the Entertainment Tent where children’s zone is located and cultural groups from various countries stage performances.
“We have brought 14 groups from different countries to perform onstage,” said Al Mansouri.
This edition of the Trade Fair puts more focus on companies and products from the Gulf region and Qatar, he added. Having been organised just days before Ramadan, organisers expect big turnout daily.
“We expect nearly 40,000 visitors daily because the timing is good as it is happening before Ramadan which is the best time for people to buy good products which are offered at good prices,” he said. To facilitate shopping, the organisers have introduced iService wherein shoppers can browse through the catalogue and easily locate the stalls through an interactive map.
From the 2,000 who filed requests, organisers have only chosen 585 hailing from 30 countries to take part at the fair due to space constraints. The expo was officially opened by Qatar Chamber Vice-Chairman Muhammed bin Ahmed bin Towar, along with heads of diplomatic missions, organisers and other officials.
He lauded the organisers of the expo for introducing new features each year such as entertainment to cater for the entire family.
Performers from Serbia, Turkey, Egypt, Africa, Syria, Thailand and Lebanon along with groups of acrobats, magicians, stiltwalkers and mascots entertain visitors both at the Entertainment Tent and the DEC lobby. In addition, there are also games and puppet theatre for children. Organised by Qatar Tourism Authority, Doha Trade Fair 2013 runs until July 6 at the Doha Exhibition Centre. It is open to the public from Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm and on Friday from 2pm to 10pm.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/242954-fair-prices-at-trade-exhibition.html
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