www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 36 UDC profit Stage set for increases basketball by 8% play-offs MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2016 • 6 Jumada I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6707 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Strict checks help keep Emir meets ExxonMobil Chairman quality of food imports per cent, said the report. tomato paste, that were rejected due During the year, the minis- to concentration (viscosity) beyond Food consignments try inspectors monitored import of the permitted levels. sent back included over 2.59 billion kilogrammes of Some 1,872 cartons of juice were food through different entry points rejected for transporting in vehicles 1,392 cartons of including the Doha Port, Hamad that were not refrigerated and 149 frozen bread and International Airport, Abu Samra cartons of vinegar for containing pre- border post and the recently-opened servatives not in the ingredients list. 1,224 cartons of Al Ruwais port. Some food cartons and pack- tomato paste Of the total imports, more than ages were rejected for not including 2.53 billion kilogrammes of food the required health warnings on the were cleared and the remaining labels and not meeting the GCC spec- rejected (0.01 percent). Of the rejected ifications. Some others were refused consignments, over 2.15 million kilo- entry for containing words like pork The Peninsula grammes were returned while more and wine as ingredients which is not than 2.9 million kilogrammes were permitted. destroyed after being found unfit for The highest quantity of food was human consumption. imported through Doha Port (over DOHA: Strict monitoring at differ- As part of the monitoring, the 901.5m kg) followed by Abu Samra ent port of entries in the country has ministry collected 7,162 food sam- with over 898.3kg. Hamad Interna- drastically reduced the volume of ples from different shipments and tional Airport came next with 738.3 food imports that do not meet Qatari sent to the central food laboratory million kg. Over the two months standards and specifications, shows for the necessary tests. Following the (November and December) since 2015 data released by the Ministry of tests, 6527 samples were cleared and it started operation, Ruwais port Public Health yesterday. 635 samples rejected due to micro- inspected 216,850kg of food. Of the total food imports during bial and chemical infection. Rejected meat, fruit, vegetables, the year, the quantity of food that was Food consignments that were which spoil soon are returned by air rejected for violating health regula- sent back included 1,392 cartons of while packed food like juice, beans, tions amounted to a negligible 0.01 frozen bread and 1,224 cartons of and frozen meat are sent back by sea. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Chairman of ExxonMobil Corporation, Rex Tillerson, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Tillerson and his delegation met the Emir to greet him during their visit to Qatar. Emir to attend Hotel occupancy in Jan QU graduation last year shot up to 84% on June 1 The Peninsula By Sachin Kumar take place, attracting visitors from The Peninsula across the globe. On the contrary, July and June DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim span the lean season when hotels bin Hamad Al Thani will honour receive lesser number of guests. The the men’s graduation ceremony of DOHA: Hotels in Qatar had an aver- hotel occupancy rate was between the Class of 2016 of Qatar Univer- age occupancy of around 67 percent 55 percent and 65 percent in June sity (QU) on June 1. H H Sheikha in December last year helped by and July last year. Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim tourist inflow from GCC (Gulf Coop- In January 2015, four-star hotels Al Thani will attend the women’s eration Council) countries. saw the highest occupancy of around ceremony on June 2, a university January of last year was the best 88 percent while five-star hotels had press statement said yesterday. month for hotels as occupancy was the lowest of 81 percent. The occu- Four hundred men and 1,400 Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Chairman around 84 percent, highest in the pancy rate of three-star hotels was women will graduate with Bach- of Dar Al Sharq’s board of directors, Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, launching Lusail in Doha year. 85 percent while one and two-star elors, Masters, and diplomas from yesterday. Vice-Chairman of the board, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, is also seen. Four-star hotels saw the high- hotels had 82 percent occupancy in all colleges at the events in Doha est occupancy and three-star hotels January last year. A chunk of visitors Exhibition and Convention Centre the lowest. to Qatar was from GCC countries. (DECC). QU VP for Student Affairs, Dar Al Sharq launches Lusail daily According to the Ministry of According to the latest figures, Dr Khalid Al Khanji, expressed his Development Planning and Statistics, there were around 1.3 million visitors appreciation for the Emir’s vision- four-star hotels had an occupancy of from these countries in December ary leadership and support for QU The Peninsula The launch at St Regis hotel Abdullah Al Thani, Vice-Chairman 72 percent in December 2015 while it last year, while 274,530 visitors came students. was attended by the Minister of of the board and other dignitaries. was 62 percent for three-star hotels. from other Arab countries. Culture and Sports H E Salah H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud The occupancy rate of five-star In 2015, some 2.93 million tour- DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Al Thani, Governor of Qatar Cen- hotels was 64 percent while one and ists visited Qatar, a 3.7 percent rise Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Municipality and Environment tral Bank, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah two-star hotels saw an occupancy of from last year. Experts say that Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yes- H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim, 69 percent in December last year. the number of visitors is bound to Travel & Tourism PAGE | 6-7 MAIN SPONSORS PAGE | 11 terday launched Lusail, the latest Al Rumaihi, Sheikh Thani bin Chairman of Qatar Businessmen December, January, Febru- increase significantly in the coming Qatar Airways among The Pearl-Qatar: world’s 500 most Perfect destination powerful brands for tourists Arabic daily from Dar Al Sharq Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of Association were also present. ary and March are usually busy years as government agencies are SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2016 group, with a focus on business Dar Al Sharq’s board of directors months in Qatar in terms of tour- taking major steps to boost tourism. news and analysis. and Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin → Continued on page 4 ists because of cooler weather and More and more → Continued on page 7 tourists visit many cultural and business events Qatar Medicine recalled for Major military manoeuvre in Saudi Included with not meeting standards today’s edition is a 12-page special AFP and preserving peace and stability in the region”, SPA said. The Peninsula Department at the ministry said yes- Saudi Arabia is currently leading a military campaign supplement on terday that the product has already against Iran-backed rebels in its southern neighbour Travel and Tourism been withdrawn from all public hos- Yemen. pitals and health centres. ABU DHABI: Armed forces from around 20 countries Last December, it also formed a new 35-member coa- in Qatar. The DOHA: The Ministry of Pub- The department has asked all were gathering in northern Saudi Arabia yesterday for lition to fight “terrorism” in Islamic countries. lic Health has announced a recall private pharmacies to stop selling “the most important” military manoeuvre ever staged in Yesterday’s announcement also comes as the kingdom, monthly supplement of Advil suspension (100mg/ 5ml, the product and instructed import- the region, the official news agency SPA reported. a member of the US-led coalition targeting the jihadist includes features and 100ml) as a precautionary meas- ers and distributors to stop supply. The “Thunder of the North” exercise involving ground, Islamic State group, said it has deployed warplanes to ure for failing to meet specifications. air, and naval forces sends a “clear message” that Riyadh a Turkish air base in order to “intensify” its operations articles. The Pharmacy and Drug Control → Continued on page 7 and its allies “stand united in confronting all challenges against IS in Syria. 02 MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME QRCS carried out projects worth QR2.786m in Qatar last year The Peninsula participation in many programmes, promote healthy and preventive lectures and social events. standards among society members, As a key field of work for the by distributing multilingual health branch, medical services provided education and road safety publica- DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Socie- last year amounted to QR1,827,000. tions, as well as participating in health ty’s (QRCS) Al Khor branch carried These included emergency med- events and exhibitions at schools, out charitable projects worth over ical care for athletes and spectators social clubs, youth and girls centres, QR2.786m last year, benefiting 31,021 during sport, recreational, and tour- and other civil society organisations. people of various ages and walks of istic events in Al Shamal as well as In relation to health education, 51 life in the northern parts of the coun- National Day and National Sport awareness lectures were delivered for Qatar Charity officials announce the launch of Awen initiative.