DOHA: Shops in Al Furjan Markets are being issued licences by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce without its field inspectors visiting these outlets for checks.
This is because the ministry is the promoter of the 44 Al Furjan Markets located in different areas, which together boast 645 shops.
Waiving of this condition (site visit by the ministry’s inspectors) means that those allotted the shops can begin their businesses immediately.
However, some requests for licensing are being forwarded to other state agencies concerned in cases where permission is required from them, and that may be delaying the opening of these shops.
The shops have been allotted to applicants through an online raffle. The ministry said the first Al Furjan shop was handed to its winner-tenant last October.
The allotments have been made through Waseef and Ezdan Holding Company and the tenants have been given guidebooks that carry extensive instructions about how to use the shops, what changes can be made without making alterations in the building’s design, and about regular maintenance.
The concept of Al Furjan Markets was mooted by the economy ministry to serve people living in remote areas so they could get items of daily use closer to their homes instead of having to go to Doha.
Al Sharq reported yesterday that the ministry was planning to launch the second phase of the Al Furjan Markets project.
THE PENINSULA
