Govt engages water producers, moves to secure strategic stocks
Commerce and Industry Minister Khalifa Al-Ajeel held a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of local bottled water producers to assess market conditions and ensure continued coordination to meet consumer demand. The meeting comes as several Gulf states enhance their readiness in light of the rapidly evolving regional situation, now in its sixth day of open hostilities.
During the meeting, Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized the government's full support for local producers and its commitment to removing any operational obstacles. He also issued a firm warning against any attempts to manipulate prices.
'The ministry will continue to monitor markets and will not tolerate any violations,' Al-Ajeel said, thanking manufacturers for their cooperation during previous crises and recognizing their national responsibility in supporting market stability.
Company representatives confirmed that bottled water factories are operating at full production capacity, with sufficient supply to meet current and future demand. They reaffirmed their commitment to stable pricing and community responsibility in ensuring the availability of safe drinking water.
The meeting followed an earlier statement by the Ministry of Commerce reassuring the public that bottled water is widely available across retail outlets, cooperative societies, and supermarkets, with large reserves maintained in warehouses. The ministry confirmed that there is no disruption in supply chains, and its inspection teams are conducting daily market checks to ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential goods.
Strategic reserves
In a related move, the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) convened an emergency committee meeting on Wednesday to review industrial readiness and the protection of strategic reserves of food, water, and medicine, particularly in the Shuaiba industrial zone, which houses several key production and storage facilities.
PAI Acting Director General Jarallah Al-Dosari said the meeting, held under Minister Al-Ajeel's direction, discussed precautionary measures in response to the 'rapidly evolving regional developments.' He noted that efforts are already underway to protect facilities and staff, and stressed the importance of cross-agency coordination to respond to any potential emergency. Emergency teams have been activated, evacuation plans put in place, and a dedicated hotline established to ensure swift communication and crisis response.— Agencies
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