Doha: The Annual Meeting of the State Procurement Program 2026 concluded on Wednesday, after running for three days amid broad participation from government entities and the private sector. The event aimed to strengthen integration within the government procurement system and support national products.
According to Qatar News Agency, on its third and final day, a panel discussion was held on boosting national products and the role of mandatory lists therein, featuring Director of the Government Procurement Regulation Department at the Ministry of Finance Nayef Al Hababi and Assistant Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Jassim Ahmed Al Kuwari. The panel discussed mechanisms for including mandatory lists in government contracts and their impact on supporting local industries.
During the session, both speakers emphasized that introducing mandatory lists represents a qualitative leap in supporting national products, as this encourages manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and increase the industrial sector's contribution to the national economy, in keeping with the Qatar National Vision 2030. They also stressed that the cooperation between the Ministries of Finance and Commerce and Industry sets an example for integrated governmental efforts in empowering national products to compete effectively in the local market and expand their participation in the execution of major government projects.
The Director of the Government Procurement Regulation Department at the Ministry of Finance Nayef Al Hababi opened the session by defining the concept of mandatory lists, which are officially approved lists of national products that government entities are obligated to use when implementing projects and signing contracts. Al Hababi added that their introduction came in accordance with cabinet decisions and that mandatory lists stimulate national factories and encourage reliance on local products, noting, however, that mandatory lists come in various forms and have different mechanisms.
Regarding what products make it on those lists, he said that the Ministry of Finance's Government Procurement Department, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority of Customs, conduct a comprehensive survey and analysis of government procurement contracts to identify the products that could be manufactured locally and included in the lists. The selection process also considers the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy (2024-2030), which outlines the state's direction for developing its industrial sector, adding that products are enlisted gradually based on government demand priorities and the availability of local production capabilities.
Al Hababi affirmed that the goal of this initiative is to ensure that government procurement becomes a direct driver of local industrial activity, contributing to economic security and reducing dependence on imports of goods that can be produced domestically. He stressed that the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with relevant entities, works to regularly update the mandatory lists to keep pace with the development of national industrial capabilities and the evolving needs of various government bodies.
For his part, Assistant Director of the National Product Competitiveness Support Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Jassim Ahmed Al Kuwari said that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry plays a pivotal role in enhancing the competitiveness of national products by developing supportive policies and initiatives for local industries, in addition to facilitating Qatari manufacturers' participation in the government procurement system. Al Kuwari pointed out that mandatory lists are a fundamental pillar within an integrated system designed to prioritize local products in supplying government entities, whether through direct contracts or public tenders.
He added that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Finance to integrate their efforts within the framework of implementing the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy (2024-2030), which focuses on developing industrial capabilities, simplifying investment procedures, and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in national supply chains. Al Kuwari also noted that the ministry regularly updates the mandatory lists to ensure the inclusion of Qatari products capable of meeting the quality, quantity, and technical standards required by government agencies.
Also part of the third and final day of the Annual Meeting of State Procurement Program 2026, a workshop was held on the local value program's 2026 updates, going over the objectives of the system, launched by the Ministry of Finance in August 2022. The workshop indicated that the program aims to maximize sustainable local value by developing national skills and talent, providing support for suppliers, contractors, and service providers, and encouraging private sector investment locally.
It also said that the local value program is one of the most important strategic tools for supporting the national economy, as it seeks to strike a balance between price and local content in government procurement by incentivizing companies to improve operational efficiency and increase domestic spending, thereby fostering the growth of national supply chains and enhancing the sustainability of Qatar's economy. The workshop further delved into the concept of local value and highlighted how introducing it in government tenders gives preference to national companies.
At the outset of the day, the Ministry of Interior, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), the General Tax Authority, and the General Authority of Customs presented their plans and projects for 2026.