Al Sada Inaugurates Qafco Flower and Vegetable Show 2013

Doha, March 30 (QNA) - HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada has inaugurated Qafco Flower & Vegetable Show 2013 at Al-Banush Club in Mesaieed. The one-day event attracted huge crowd of participants and visitors. HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry: "The Show is an excellent initiative and a serious effort to promote a greener Qatar". HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry hailed the Flower and Vegetable Show and said "It has an important role in promoting environmental awareness amongst all sections of the society, especially the youth." He also appreciated the role QAFCO plays at different social levels, citing the show as one of its important tools to involve community members in various cultural and social activities. HE Dr. Al-Sada said that "this annual event is gaining increased popularity and success, reflected by significant public participation, as well as by Qafco's drive to promote a greener environment in Qatar". Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed Al-Malki, Qafco Board Chairman: "The Show aims to environment protection and conservation". Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed Al-Malki, Qafco Board Chairman, has commended with appreciation the backing and support of HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qafco Flower Show, expressing in the same time special appreciation to the Minister's interest in the event, his concern with and continuous support to all activities that aim at caring for the environment preservation. Al-Malki affirmed that Qafco, one of the largest producers of fertilizers in the world, exerts strenuous efforts to provide all possible means that enable citizens contribute and actively participate in protecting the environment by stimulating their interest and sense of greenery to increase green spaces to preserve, protect and conserve the surrounding environment. As a gesture towards this end, Qafco annual Flower & Vegetable Show to which everyone aspires as a result of deep-rooted belief in developing public awareness with regard to greenery hoping to make a serious stride on the way to a "green track", hoping it leads to achieving progress and prosperity to the country and makes Qatar a "green state". Khalifa Abdullah Al-Sowaidi, Qafco Vice Chairman and CEO: "Qafco works for an environment that is balanced and consistent with the bounty of nature". Al-Sowaidi asserted that efforts in the four corners of the globe are geared towards indigenization of greenery and agriculture and giving this aspect a fundamental role in todays world, especially in this stage to make the earth "a green planet". From this perspective Qafco worked harder to achieve this noble goal. Hence, Qafco is committed to environment protection and preservation. The company looks forward to see this commitment reflected in all aspects of its activities and further extended to other sectors in the company's geographical surrounding, which affect and are affected by Qafco activities. Thus, QAFCO is very keen to see its efforts of inculcating environmental awareness within social sectors as an example to encourage concerned parties to make further efforts to contribute to increase environmental awareness and interest in greenery. Such efforts will enable this vital sector play a major role in shaping our environment and keep pace with the accelerated development around us and make the development consistent and balanced with the gifts of nature. Sponsorship of the Flower and Vegetable Show comes to complement Qafco's efforts to support the directions on environment preservation. The Show is a unique event that provides the opportunity to wider segments of the community to participate in caring for and developing the environment. The Show allows people from all categories to participate. Professionals from hotels participated in vegetable and fruit carving, ice and butter carving and cake and candy decorating. Professionals from nurseries and florists participated in the arrangement of flowers of different kinds. Amateurs participated in more than 90 classes including different levels in arrangement of flower, vegetable, fruit, pot plants, fruit, vegetable and butter carving. The show allowed school students of different age groups to participate and showcase their talents and skills in flower arrangement, demonstrate creativity in displays depicting nature and reflecting care for environment in addition to exhibits reflecting education activities. Last year live drawing competition was met by applause and received great acceptance among students. To encourage creativity, winners received trophies, rosettes and coupons in addition to lucky draw prizes. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Hamed Al-Marwani, Qafco Chief Administration Officer and chairman of the Show organizing committee, honored the winners by distributing the prizes. Prizes included return air tickets to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Tickets were provided by some of the airlines and travel agencies in Doha. (END)