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Time Business News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Role of HACCP Consultants in Meeting Qatar's Food Safety Regulations
Food safety is a top priority in Qatar's fast-growing food industry. As international trade, tourism, and local demand increase, the Qatari government has introduced strict food safety rules to protect public health. One of the most trusted global systems for ensuring food safety is HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). To set up and maintain this system successfully, many businesses in Qatar turn to experienced HACCP consultants. Understanding HACCP and Its Importance HACCP is a proactive food safety system based on science. It works by identifying and controlling potential hazards throughout the food supply chain. Instead of checking food safety only at the final stage, HACCP focuses on each step—from sourcing raw materials to processing and distribution. In Qatar, following HACCP is often required by law for getting business licenses, meeting export standards, and passing public health checks. Why HACCP Consultants Are Essential Setting up a HACCP system takes a strong understanding of food safety laws, risk management, and industry-specific risks. HACCP consultants in Qatar are essential partners in this process. They offer services like: Gap Analysis : Reviewing current practices to find areas for improvement. : Reviewing current practices to find areas for improvement. Plan Development : Designing custom HACCP plans that meet global standards and local laws. : Designing custom HACCP plans that meet global standards and local laws. Staff Training : Teaching teams about food hygiene, hazard control, and record-keeping. : Teaching teams about food hygiene, hazard control, and record-keeping. Audit Preparation : Helping businesses get ready for inspections by health authorities. : Helping businesses get ready for inspections by health authorities. Ongoing Support: Guiding regular updates and improvements to stay compliant. Aligning with Qatari Food Safety Laws Qatar's Law No. 8 of 1990 and recent Ministry of Public Health updates highlight the need for strong food safety practices. Businesses must keep clear records, check for risks often, and take corrective steps when needed. Failing to meet these rules can lead to fines, license suspension, or even shutdowns. HACCP consultants help businesses stay compliant and build a culture of safety. They understand how to meet legal requirements while adapting food safety plans for different types of businesses—like restaurants, catering services, food manufacturers, and suppliers. Conclusion In Qatar's tightly regulated food industry, HACCP consultants act as trusted guides between companies and government rules. Their skills help businesses build reliable food safety systems, lower risks, and earn customer trust. For any food business looking to succeed in Qatar, working with a qualified HACCP Consultant in Qatar is not just helpful—it's a smart and necessary move. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Daily News Egypt
13-04-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Akam Al Rajhi partners with U Hotels to launch second D.O.S.E Hotel in North Coast
Akam Al Rajhi Developments has signed a cooperation agreement with Absolute Hotel Services—one of the fastest-growing hospitality groups in Asia and Europe—to manage and operate the second hotel within its flagship D.O.S.E project on Egypt's North Coast. The new hotel will be operated under the U Hotels brand, marking the group's official entry into the Egyptian market. The partnership also includes the management of branded hotel residences under the 'Jay by U' concept. Speaking on behalf of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Mohamed Amer—Head of the Central Administration for Hotel Establishments, Shops, and Tourist Activities—hailed the collaboration as a valuable addition to Egypt's hospitality sector. He noted that it aligns with the country's Vision 2030, which aims to double Egypt's licensed hotel room capacity from 230,000 to 460,000 by the end of the decade. Amer added that 2024 has already shown robust performance, with hotel occupancy rates surpassing 90% and increased investor interest from both domestic and international players. He highlighted recent incentives introduced by the Ministry of Tourism, including amendments to Law No. 8, allowing investors to acquire hotel licenses through a streamlined one-stop-shop system. The legislative updates now offer more flexibility, minimize bureaucratic obstacles, and encourage greater private sector participation. He also announced the rollout of a hotel support initiative allocating EGP 50bn in low-interest financing over a two-year period, which has already disbursed EGP 40bn to support approximately 50,000 hotel rooms. Additional initiatives are under review to further stimulate tourism investment and hotel development. Representing Minister of Investment Hassan El-Khatib and GAFI Chairperson Hossam Heiba, Ahmed Bediwy, Head of the Promotion Sector at the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), reaffirmed Egypt's position as one of the MENA region's most attractive investment destinations—particularly in tourism, a cornerstone of the national economy. Bediwy emphasized the sector's resilience, its contributions to SME growth and local development, and the government's continued efforts to enhance the investment climate through targeted incentives, infrastructure improvements, and legislative reform. He stressed that attracting 30 million tourists annually is a central objective of Egypt's Vision 2030, necessitating the expansion of tourism projects and hotel capacity. Commenting on broader regional cooperation, Bediwy highlighted the evolving global economic landscape as an opportunity for deeper economic ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, with tourism investment a key area for future collaboration. He encouraged Saudi businesses to explore Egypt's growing tourism sector and leverage its competitive advantages. Abdulwahab Al Rajhi, Chairperson of Al Rajhi Group and Co-founder of Akam Al Rajhi, stated that the agreement is part of the company's vision to deliver a distinctive, world-class development on Egypt's North Coast. He noted the significance of bringing U Hotels—a well-established global brand with a strong presence across Asia and Europe—into this landmark project. Essam Mansour, Chairperson of Akam Al Rajhi, underscored the strategic importance of the D.O.S.E project's location, its expansive 125-feddan footprint, and the over EGP 9bn invested to date. Akam Al Rajhi CEO Idris Mohamed confirmed that the new U Hotels property will feature 150 hotel rooms and will manage over 1,000 serviced hotel residences within the D.O.S.E development. The hotel will offer a comprehensive suite of hospitality and leisure services, including scenic landscapes, artificial lakes, swimming pools, a wellness club, dedicated jogging and cycling tracks, and a shopping complex—designed to provide a premium lifestyle experience for residents and visitors alike. Kevork Deldelian, CEO of Absolute Hotel Services for the Middle East and Africa, noted that the Bangkok-headquartered company is one of the fastest-growing hospitality management groups worldwide. It currently operates over 69,000 hotel rooms across 50 properties under various brand names and is known for its high standards of service across global markets.
Iraqi News
08-04-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
The Cabinet holds the regular sessions, decisions included
The Cabinet held two regular sessions on Tuesday, during which it issued several decisions, including strengthening the role of governorates, granting governors powers and responsibilities in the electricity distribution sector, and approving funding for the objectives of the National Initiative for Energy Support and Emissions Reduction Policy. PM Al-Sudani chaired the 13th and 14th regular sessions of the Cabinet to compensate for the session postponed due to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to the PM's media office statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. The two sessions included discussions on the general situation in the country, follow-up on service and economic files, and progress on the government program, in addition to addressing items on the agenda and issuing relevant decisions. In support of educational staff and employees of the Ministry of Education, the Cabinet hosted the Head of the Teachers' Syndicate and issued a set of decisions, as follows: 1. Proceed with the distribution of residential plots for educational staff in Baghdad and the provinces, and establish a higher committee to implement the Prime Minister's directive—issued by the Higher Commission for Coordination between Governorates—approving the creation of housing districts for educational staff and employees of the Ministry of Education in Baghdad and the provinces, with the participation of the Teachers' Syndicate. 2. The Ministry of Finance shall disburse transportation allowances to educational supervisors, as allocated within the budget of each Directorate of Education. 3. The Ministry of Education shall allocate 100,000 dinars per semester to support school administration operations. 4. All provisions of the Law on the Protection of Teachers (Law No. 8 of 2018) shall be activated. 5. Survey remote schools and identify educational staff working in schools more than 100 km away from city centers; submit findings to the Ministry of Education for fair solutions. 6. The Ministry of Finance shall study the possibility of counting unpaid service years for the purposes of promotion and salary increases. 7. Educational staff shall be granted loans from state-owned banks at low interest rates to improve their living standards. In the framework of the government's housing projects, the Cabinet approved the exemption of land development projects for distribution to Ministry of Defense personnel—whose names are listed in Cabinet Resolution No. 245 of 2019, as amended by Resolution No. 23374 of 2023—from the relevant restrictions. This includes all lands previously owned by the Ministry of Defense, whether now inside or outside municipal boundaries. To support the private sector, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Cabinet Resolution No. 24413 of 2024 concerning support for the private industrial sector and the mechanism for granting land titles for industrial projects. The amendment ensures that monthly fuel allocations for industrial and construction projects will not be suspended, except in specific cases verified by the Ministry of Oil, including product smuggling, failure to resolve tax obligations or settle government dues, violations recorded by regulatory or inspection bodies, and environmental violations. The resolution also maintains a one-month annual maintenance shutdown for safe project operations and mandates that all industrial and construction projects receive fuel quotas as determined by the Ministry of Oil based on availability. During the session, the Cabinet approved a recommendation to extend the ban on importing juices, soft drinks, and pastries by continuing the implementation of Cabinet Resolution No. 23571 of 2023 for a period of six months. Local producers of these items must submit product protection applications within this period according to applicable laws, after which the resolution will no longer be in effect. As part of its environmental protection efforts, the Cabinet approved the insertion of a provision into the Environmental Standards Instructions for Project Establishment and Monitoring (Instruction No. 3 of 2011) allowing the Prime Minister to grant exemptions from those instructions based on a recommendation from the Minister of Environment. The Cabinet also reviewed the progress of development and service projects and approved several related decisions: 1. Include the works for designing and constructing a 45 km pipeline to accommodate imported gas through the floating platform and connect it to the national grid as a component within the project (Fuel Delivery for Industrial and Power Projects) and increase the total project cost. 2. Include the dry gas pipeline works as a component in the project (Completion of Anbar Combined Cycle Power Plant/ under the Framework Agreement with China) and increase the total project cost. 3. Increase the total cost of the Eastern Jazira Irrigation Project, establish a new component for executing Contract No. 26 of 2009, and proceed with the contract to construct the project's main feed canal. 4. Increase the total cost and contingency allocation for the contract (Supply and Implementation of the Right-Bank Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mosul). 5. Increase the contingency and total cost for projects: (Rehabilitation of Al-Tahrir Street in Al-Samawah), (Rehabilitation of the Southern Entrance to Al-Samawah), and (Rehabilitation of Al-Sharakiyah Streets and remaining streets in District 36 and New Professors' District in Al-Samawah). The Cabinet also approved the bill on Iraq's ratification of the Air Services Agreement between the Governments of Iraq and the Czech Republic and referred it to the Council of Representatives by the Constitution. As part of efforts to empower provinces in the electricity distribution sector, the Cabinet approved measures to strengthen the role of provinces in electricity production, granting governors the following authorities: 1. Undertake necessary procedures to install hybrid solar power units near transmission and distribution stations in districts and sub-districts, with capacities ranging from 10 to 30 megawatts per site, to enhance electricity supply and reduce demand pressure. 2. Implement the installation of household hybrid solar systems with a capacity of at least 5 kilowatts, and batteries of no less than 10 kilowatt-hours, to ease the burden on citizens and enhance power provision—at a cost lower than that of private generator subscriptions. The Cabinet also approved funding to support the objectives of the National Initiative to Promote Energy and Reduce Emissions, previously endorsed by the Cabinet. This includes afforestation efforts and sustainability projects currently under implementation by the designated authority. In the energy sector, the Cabinet approved the inclusion of the 20-inch dry gas pipeline project to the Al-Dibis Gas Power Plant. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved converting the contract model for the Kirkuk-based Hydrogenation and Gasoline Improvement Unit (12,000 barrels per day) from a BOO (Build-Own-Operate) to a BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) model, with a processing fee set at $23 per barrel. The Cabinet reviewed the progress of energy sector projects and approved an eight-month extension to the closure period specified in Resolution No. 24249 of 2024 regarding the sovereign guarantee for the Al-Khairat Thermal Power Plant, in line with the contract signed with the implementing company. The extension is effective from the date the guarantee is received, with financial dues to be paid to the investor following the commencement of commercial operations. In support of domestic industry, the Cabinet approved the following measures to protect national products: 1. Revise the estimated customs valuation for solid soap recorded by the General Commission of Customs to 2 million dinars per ton, up from 528,000 dinars per ton. 2. Impose an additional customs duty of 20% on imported soap products from all countries for four years. 3. Instruct the Ministry of Finance to regularly notify the Ministry of Industry of import volumes and collected additional duties, taking into account the increase in imports and the complainant company's capacity to meet domestic demand without causing price inflation. To support the private sector and address the challenges faced by contractors, the Cabinet approved the following: 1. Issue 5 trillion IQD in treasury bonds with a 10% interest rate to cover payments for completed investment plan projects in the 2025 budget. 2. Engaging contracting authorities and the Ministry of Planning regarding pending dues to contractors and companies, to be presented to the Economic Ministerial Council. 3. Form a committee led by the Ministry of Planning to review the Contractors Union's request for recognizing digitized versions of contracts as official originals at the governorate level. 4. Simplify the implementation of Council of Minister Resolution No. 301 of 2021 by relying on oversight audits conducted by the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, as present in the contracting entities. 5. Recognize the Iraqi Contractors Union as the official representative of contractors in all relevant governmental committees and forums. 6. Unify Ministry of Planning fees related to project advertisements, bidding, and award procedures. 7. Consult the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on the handling of labor insurance deductions under the deduction-and-transfer system, ensuring that contractors are not subject to penalties and that previously imposed fines are canceled. The Cabinet also approved combining technical survey work with demining contracts into a single agreement as an exception to government contracting regulations. As part of continued government support for the sports sector, the Council approved an exemption for Plot No. (3/7259, District 3 Waziriya)—measuring 25 donums and allocated to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Club from the provisions of Council of Minister Resolution No. 169 of 2022. The land will be used to construct an international-standard stadium and a sports-commercial complex to help the club generate sustainable revenues. The Cabinet also approved the draft law ratifying the agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of air transport and referred the bill to the Council of Representatives for legislative action.
