The Minister of Economy and Commerce is expected to soon issue rules and regulations for foreigners to set up commercial representative offices in Qatar to promote their products and services in the local market.

The offices will, however, not be allowed to carry out business activities in the country, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported yesterday as part of a report on the Cabinet’s weekly meeting.

The Cabinet approved proposed amendments to some provisions of Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 2008 according to which the Minister of Economy and Commerce will have the authority to allow an errant commercial agency to do reconciliation after paying half the fine a court has imposed for violating provisions of the law. Such reconciliation can be done before a final verdict from a court hearing the case of violation. 

As per amendments, commercial agencies will be required to renew their licences annually and two months before the licence expires.  

Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet’s meeting at the Emiri Diwan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud made a statement, detailing  the outcome of the meeting.

The Cabinet welcomed UAE President H H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s order to release two Qatari citizens who had been detained in the country, hailed Sheikh Khalifa’s decision and stressed that the release did justice to the citizens.

The Cabinet expressed pleasure of the Emir and people at the return of the citizens, stressing Qatar’s keenness on brotherly and deep ties with the UAE, particularly in the ongoing circumstances in the region, which call for cohesion and rising above temporary differences.

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The meeting also approved a draft Cabinet decision on amending the formation and terms of reference of the appeals committee relating to expropriate properties in public interest.

It also approved the Health Minister’s draft decision on adding some substances to the tables annexed to Law No. 9 for 1987 on counter-narcotics, dangerous psychotropic substances, and Law No. 19 for 1993 on the circulation of psychoactive substances regulation.

The Cabinet endorsed Qatar’s joining the Advisory Board of United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism.

It took measures for the ratification of air service agreements Qatar has signed with Benin and Liberia.

The Cabinet endorsed holding meetings of the third session of the Qatari-Belarusian Joint Committee on economic, commercial and technical cooperation in Doha in  September; the first  session of the Qatari-Greek Joint Committee on economic and technical cooperation in Doha in September; the first session of the Qatari-Slovenian Joint Committee on economic and commercial cooperation in Ljubljana in October; the first session of the Qatari-Cypriot Joint Committee on economic and technical cooperation in Doha in November; the second session of the Qatari-Tajik Joint Committee on economic, commercial and technical cooperation in Doha in December; and the  fourth session of the Qatari-Italian Joint Committee on economic and technical cooperation in Doha in December. The Cabinet also took measures regarding proposals of the Ministry of Youth and Sports on legislation; and a note by the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Population on studying observations of the Standing Committee on Water Resources.

As Seen on The Peninsula