Undersecretary of Transport Ministry Opens Fourth Qatar Supply Chain Conference

Doha, October 27 (QNA) - HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim Al Maadeed opened the fourth Qatar Supply Chain Conference in Doha on Monday, under the theme "Supply Chains in Times of Crisis: From Shocks to Resilience", with the participation of senior officials and decision-makers.
The conference provided a platform to exchange expertise, discuss key supply chain challenges and explore modern solutions and technologies to improve logistics efficiency, strengthen supply chain resilience and ensure the continued flow of goods and services amid current economic and geopolitical changes.
In his opening address, HE Al Maadeed said supply chains had become more than an economic and commercial system, serving instead as a pillar of national security, stability and resilience in the face of crises.
He explained that while traditional supply chain strategies focused on operational efficiency, successive geopolitical, economic and health crises had reshaped priorities, making resilience, the ability to withstand, adapt to and recover from disruptions, the decisive factor.
He stressed that building resilient supply chains was now a national necessity requiring a comprehensive vision and clear implementation plans. This could not be achieved through isolated measures or temporary responses, but through an integrated national system bringing together the public and private sectors to protect economic and service continuity under changing conditions.
HE Al Maadeed warned that dependence on a single route, source or point of entry represented a strategic vulnerability that could threaten supplies during disruptions.
Genuine supply security, he said, required early planning, diversified suppliers and routes, secure entry points and adequate strategic reserves of priority goods.
His Excellency added that resilience must be built before crises through proactive planning, early preparedness and the ability to anticipate risks. This required diversifying supply sources and routes, strengthening infrastructure and strategic stocks, and developing advanced information and early-warning systems to help decision-makers act before disruptions escalated.
HE the Transport Ministry Undersecretary said supply chain resilience was a shared responsibility, with the private sector playing a central role in transport, storage and distribution, connecting markets with ports, entry points and production centers, and contributing operational expertise and innovation.
He underscored the need for a clear government framework defining responsibilities, accelerating information-sharing and decision-making, and improving preparedness to ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential goods and services.
Despite the accelerating pace of global change, HE Al Maadeed noted, crises remained an enduring reality. While not every disruption could be prevented or predicted, preparedness was a matter of choice. Investment in supply chain resilience was therefore a strategic investment in economic strength, national security, social stability and quality of life.
He concluded that while supply chain efficiency drives growth and competitiveness during periods of stability, resilience protects that growth when markets are shaken and supply routes disrupted. 
HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim Al Maadeed called for lessons learned to be translated into practical policies and initiatives through coordinated government and private-sector efforts to build lasting national preparedness and resilience. 
For his part, HE former Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah said that amid a highly complex regional and international environment, with growing disruptions to global trade routes and declining volumes of goods imported and exported from the Gulf region, supply chain challenges had become a strategic issue affecting the food and economic security of the region's countries and peoples. 
He stressed that strengthening supply and trade chains in Qatar and the Gulf states was no longer optional but essential to addressing current challenges. 
He praised Qatar's wise leadership for recognising early the importance of strategic preparedness and enhancing supply chain resilience. 
HE Al Attiyah called for greater Gulf solidarity, noting that joint GCC action had always served as a strong shield for regional countries during crises. 
He proposed establishing a joint Gulf committee within the GCC framework to exchange information, coordinate positions and respond swiftly to crises caused by supply chain disruptions. 
The committee, he said, would function as a Gulf operations room, ensuring immediate coordination and timely decision-making. 
Meanwhile, First Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari said that amid unprecedented geopolitical challenges, supply chains had evolved beyond the transportation of goods and raw materials to become a strategic component of economic and food security, production continuity, market stability, and companies' ability to maintain operations and competitiveness. 
He affirmed Qatar Chamber's commitment to strengthening the supply chain system, coordinating with relevant authorities, conveying private-sector perspectives, monitoring challenges facing companies and developing appropriate solutions to improve the business environment, facilitate trade and reduce operating costs. 
HE Al Kuwari explained that, during the recent crisis, the Chamber's Sectoral Committees had held a series of meetings with different sectors to identify their challenges, most of which were linked to supply chains. 
He stressed that the private sector was a key partner in developing the sector, given its expertise, investment and technical capabilities, and central role in importing, exporting, storage, transport and distribution.
He added that Qatar Chamber had sought to create an environment encouraging companies to invest in logistics services, develop operational capabilities and establish strategic partnerships with leading regional and international companies. 
He also highlighted the growing importance of digital transformation and innovation in advancing supply chains. 
HE Al Kuwari expressed hope that the conference discussions would produce practical ideas and recommendations to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders, build a more efficient, resilient and sustainable system, and create new investment and partnership opportunities for local and international companies. 
The event also featured three panel discussions involving representatives of the Ministry of Transport, along with officials from several government entities and academic institutions, including Mwani Qatar, the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar University, Doha University for Science and Technology, and the Community College of Qatar. (QNA)