AMMAN — Water pumping from the Kingdom’s main aquifers increased by 32 per cent between 2017 and 2018, according to a new study released on Monday, prompting a debate around the need to reconsider crop water allocation.

The study detected groundwater consumption patterns using satellite remote sensing applications, Ministry of Water and Irrigation Spokesperson Omar Salameh said on Monday.

“Results"...

Qatar’s startup ecosystem has been gaining momentum, but needs all the right elements in place to complete the system, said a seasoned international investor.

Speaking to The Peninsula, on the sidelines of a recently-concluded Investment Forum, Julian Costley, who authored the highly-acclaimed book ‘How to Use Crowdfunding’ and who personally invested in 22 companies around the world, said entrepreneurialism and creating wealth"...

Optimized Holding, one of Qatar’s major emerging diversified companies, announced yesterday that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimized Industries for Chemicals Factory, is launching local production of Lifebuoy and Lux soap bars in partnership with Unilever International, one of the world’s largest manufacturing goods companies.

Optimized Industries for Chemicals Factory is located in the new Doha Industrial Area. This project has been"...

NeXTFairs, the organizer of Build Your House 2020 exhibition, has announced in a statement on Monday that the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), will be the official partner of the Build Your House 2020 Exhibition.
Under the patronage of HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani, Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, the inaugural edition of Build Your House 2020 will take place from March 2 to 4, 2020 at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).
Ashghal will have a dedicated pavilion at the exhibition,"...

Optimized Holding’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimized Industries for Chemicals Factory, will locally produce Lifebuoy and Lux soap bars in partnership with Unilever, one of the world’s largest manufacturing goods companies, the company announced in a statement on Monday.
Optimized Industries for Chemicals Factory is located in the new Doha Industrial Area. The project has been fast-tracked to be ready in just three months and will be the first factory in Qatar producing soap for personal care.
The"...

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) said in a statement on Monday that Qatar’s largest financial technology (fintech) service provider QPAY LLC, has joined QFC platform.
The addition of QPAY to the growing number of financial services firms on the QFC platform demonstrates QFC’s commitment to developing Qatar’s financial services sector, as well as the Qatari economy.
QPAY, a member of the NEXXO Network, is Qatar’s largest fintech company offering innovative, low cost and secure financial technology"...

Technical Committee for the Encouragement and Participation of the Private Sector in Economic Development Projects is working with the government to review existing laws, rules and regulations to ensure the ease of doing business in Qatar, the committee’s head said on Monday.
Speaking at the Improving Qatar’s Business Environment Forum in Doha, Khamis al Mohannadi, head of the committee, said various initiatives like awarding projects to private sector under the public- private partnership (PPP) model, introduction"...

The MENA region’s leading mixed-use business incubator, Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) – a division of Qatar Development Bank (QDB) - has announced the winners of the 13th wave of LeanStartup program (LSP) during Selection Day.
During the event, 20 local startups competed for incubation, marking the culmination of a new wave of graduates from the transformational LeanStartup Program.
Over the course of three hours, a panel of specialised judges assessed the up-and-coming entrepreneurs’"...

Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari chaired Qatar’s delegation to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) High Level Public and Private Investment Conference taking place in Istanbul.
In the two-day conference that began on December 8, Qatar’s participation in the conference comes within the framework of its keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Turkey and to bolster cooperation with OIC member states. It also provides insight into the investment climate in Qatar"...

The Economic Zones Company (Manateq) on Sunday announced awarding of Al Wukair Logistics Park development contract to Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model.
According to an agreement signed between the two parties, Qatar’s leading logistics provider GWC will develop the 1.48 square kilometer of Al Wukair Logistics Park under build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis with an investment of QR1.5 billion.
The PPP deal with a 30-year lease tenure will allow GWC to design,"...