WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21, 2019 DHU AL-HIJJAH 20, 1440 VOL.12 NO. 4718 QR 2 FINE Fajr: 3:49 am Dhuhr: 11:37 am HIGH : 40°C Asr: 3:06 pm Maghrib: 6:06 pm LOW : 33°C Isha: 7:36 pm MAIN BRANCH LULU HYPER SANAYYA ALKHOR Business 9 Sports 12 Doha D-Ring Road Street-17 M & J Building MATAR QADEEM MANSOURA ABU HAMOUR BIN OMRAN Construction activities pick up New season, new show: Xavi seeks Near Ahli Bank Al Meera Petrol Station Al Meera pace as villa demand soars a strong start for Al Sadd alzamanexchange www.alzamanexchange.com 44441448 Qatar’s revenue FM, KENYAN COUNTERPART REVIEW TIES rises 27.3% to Amir inquires about Kuwait Amir’s health QR207.9 billion QNA Expenditure continues to decline in 2018: QCB DOHA SATYENDRA PATHAK revenue with a lion’s share of 83.3 per- THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al DOHA cent during 2018, higher than the 81.5 Thani on Tuesday held a phone call with percent during 2017, the report said. the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah al QATAR’S total public revenue for 2018 On the other hand, total expendi- Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah. During the call, stood at QR207.9 billion, an increase ture continued its declining trend and the Amir was reassured about the health of 27.3 percent from QR163.3 billion in was lower by 5.1 percent from that of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al of the Amir of Kuwait after undergoing the previous year, Qatar Central Bank 2017. Total public expenditure during Thani met Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya Monica Juma in Nairobi on Tuesday. During the meet- a normal medical checkup. The Amir (QCB) has said in its latest report. 2018 stood at QR192.8 billion. ing, the two sides reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries as well as issues of com- wished the Amir of Kuwait good health According to the 42nd annual re- Completion of major projects and mon concern. The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin and wellness. port of QCB, the expenditure ration- Saif al Sulaiti. (QNA) increase in total alisation under fiscal public revenue dur- reforms have been ing 2018 was a re- the major driving Somali president thanks versal of the declin- force behind the ing trend during the contraction in total Qatar for support previous three years expenditure during Retail stores turn Metro stations and reflected the the last few years, OMALIA President Mohamed Abdullahi positive impact of the report said. SFarmajo on Tuesday thanked Qatar for recovery in energy Expenditure its contribution to building his country’s prices. on wages and sala- into shopping destinations infrastructure, including Hobyo Port project. Both the com- ries during 2018 In a statement issued by the official ponents of revenue increased by 7.8 SATYENDRA PATHAK Somali news agency, the Somali president like ‘oil and gas’ percent to QR55.7 DOHA thanked the government of Qatar for its and ‘miscellaneous Completion of major projects billion from QR53.1 contribution to building the country’s infra- transferable’ in- and expenditure rationalisation billion during 2017, RISING number of retail structure, including Hobyo Port, which is a creased during 2018. under fiscal reforms have been the report said, add- stores, services kiosks and art strategic economic priority for Somalia and The revenue the major driving force behind ing that its share in installations have made Doha for the region as a whole. from ‘oil and gas’ the contraction in total expendi- total expenditure Metro stations more than just He also hailed Deputy Prime Minister increased by 30.2 ture during the last few years increased to 28.9 transit hubs. and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh percent to QR173.1 percent from 26.1 With facilities like bank- Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani and billion from QR133 percent during 2017. ing, money exchange, telecom his accompanying delegation’s visit to So- billion during 2017. Similarly, the rev- By contrast, current expenditure service, pharmacy, travel agent, malia, and the announcement of the launch enue from ‘miscellaneous transferable’ during 2018 declined by 7.8 percent to courier service, health and of the Hobyo Port construction project in consisting of various fees and taxes QR55.7 billion from QR60.2 billion in beauty clinics, laundry, govern- Galmudug state in the north-central Mudug during 2018 increased by 14.9 percent 2017. Its share in the total expenditure ment entities and quick ser- region of Somalia. (QNA) to QR34.9 billion from QR30.3 billion declined to 28.8 percent from 29.6 per- vice repair available at most of Banking facilities are also available at Doha Metro stations. during the previous year. cent during 2017. the operational stations, Doha Revenue from ‘oil and gas’ continued Metro premises are fast turn- various corners of the stations tions to be operational soon. to constitute the major source of public Continued on page 2 Ô ing into shopping destinations has made Doha Metro a com- According to Qatar Rail, for both passengers and neigh- muters paradise,” Subhash registration is now open for re- bourhood customers. Ghosh, who travels on Doha tailers to submit applications “Starting from stationary, Metro regularly to reach his of- for more than 80 retail units electronics, florist, accessories, fice in West Bay from Wakrah, on three lines of Doha Metro. gift and souvenir shops, book said. The application closing QP signs 5-year condensate sale stores, sports shop and nutri- After the successful launch date is August 29, 2019, ac- tional supplement to café, quick of retail outlets at most of the cording to a statement issued deal with Exxon in Singapore service restaurant, juice bar operational Red Line stations, by Qatar Rail to prospective and specialty food all are avail- Qatar Rail has announced a retailers. 2022 World Cup emblem QATAR Petroleum for the Sale of Petroleum Prod- able at Doha Metro stations. unique retail opportunity at ucts Company (QPSPP) has recently concluded Besides, display of artworks at rest of the Doha Metro sta- Continued on page 2 Ô to be unveiled on Sept 3 a five-year sale agreement with ExxonMobil FIFA has confirmed that the official em- Trading Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (EXTAP), a division of blem for the Qatar 2022 World Cup will ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd based in Singa- be unveiled on September 3. Qatar will pore. Under the agreement, QPSPP will supply host the World Cup for the first time in its ExxonMobil’s Singapore Integrated Manufactur- history, and the history of the Middle East ing Complex with a total of 6 million barrels of Kingfish catching ban continues until Oct 15 and the Arab countries, from November 21 Low Sulfur Condensate per year starting in July HE Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has said that the ban on catching until December 18, 2022. Qatar is set to 2019. This supply agreement is the first conden- T“kingfish” will continue until October 15.The ban, which began on August 15, is aimed at host the FIFA Club World Cup next Decem- sate long-term sale to an end-user in Singapore, protecting the stock of species of kingfish in the country, pointing out that it is prohibited to ber as part of its preparations for Qatar highlighting QPSPP push for more direct sales catch this type of fish by nets as well as trading and transport of their fishing nets, while fish- 2022 World Cup. PAGE 12 with established end-users. PAGE 9 ing is allowed only by hooks. (QNA) Unavailability of POS machines at many shops irks customers TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK volved. They said many a time of Majlis programme in Industry to study the issue to deal with bank cards. Is it DOHA they even don’t find an ATM Al-Kass TV, said recently SOLUTION and try to find a solution. possible to go buy an iPhone nearby. he ordered several meals OOne quick-fix solution However, one shop owner with accessories for QR6,000 UNAVAILABILITY of retail They demanded a finan- from one of the popular to the problem is to com- said on his Twitter account and then get asked by the sell- point of sale (POS) machines cial ceiling that obliges shops restaurants in Al-Waab pel banks to reduce the that some shops avoid us- er to pay in cash?” he said. at many shops and restau- to use POS machines if they Street, which seems to be interest they charge for ing bank cards because of A Twitter user said, “One rants is making customers see sell goods worth more than very sophisticated, but he was purchases through POS the commission charged by quick-fix solution to the prob- red as they are forced to pay QR5,000 or QR10,000. surprised to find that the res- machines, a Twitter user banks for each transaction. lem is to compel banks to re- the bills in cash, which some- They said shops sell- taurant does not accept pay- has suggested “I hope the Ministry of duce the interest they charge times run into several thou- ing tyres, mobile phones ment by bank card. Commerce and Industry, Qa- for purchases through POS sand riyals. or labour recruitment of- Former member of the tar Central Bank and banks machines. It will encourage Expressing their dismay fices sometimes charge up to Central Municipal Council into sev- most of the recruitment of- to accelerate the adoption of all shops and commercial over the matter, several citi- QR16,000 for their services.