On Path to Progress & Prosperity - JANUARY 26, 2020 - Qatar Tribune
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JANUARY 26, 2020 On Path to Progress & Prosperity
71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 01
Ambassador’s Message
Ram Nath Kovind Narendra Modi
President of India Prime Minister of India
l
ndia celebrates its 71st Republic again met the Prime Minister of India months, to participate in trade exhibi- tions and yoga. I am happy that 2019
Day today. It was on this historic on the sidelines of the UNGA session in tions and explore business opportuni- proved to be a memorable year with
day, 70 years ago, that the Consti- New York in September 2019. Over the ties. Similarly, we welcome Qatari cultural events on both sides that were
tution of India came into force. This past year, we have had visits to Qatar by companies to visit trade events in India able to do justice to the deep historical
Constitution enshrines the ideals HE Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister to identify the best possible partners for ties between our two countries. We are
and aspirations that guided India’s of Petroleum and Natural Gas; HE Gen collaboration. grateful to Qatar Museums, Ministry of
peaceful freedom movement. India, to- (Dr) V K Singh, then MoS for External We consider people-to-people Culture and Sports, Qatar National Tour-
day a country of over 1.3 billion people, Affairs; HE Mr Hari Bansh Narayan ties as a bedrock of great significance ism Council, Katara Cultural Village,
the world’s largest democracy and the Singh, Deputy Chairman of Rajya in further deepening the bilateral ties Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Li-
third largest economy in purchasing- Sabha; HE Mr Rajinder Khanna, Deputy between our two nations. India is a brary, Doha Film Institute and a number
power-parity terms, continues to march National Security Adviser and a delega- popular tourist and wellness destina- of other relevant agencies in Qatar, for
ahead resolutely. tion from the Ministry of AYUSH. On tion amongst Qatari nationals, given their assistance and cooperation during
My wife and I, along with our the other hand, there the cultural compat- the course of the year.
colleagues in the Embassy and their were visits to India ibility and historical The welfare and well-being of the
families, convey our warm greetings and by HE Jassim Saif contacts between the Indian community in Qatar is a matter
best wishes to all fellow Indians in the Ahmed al Sulaiti, two countries. Qatar of priority for the Embassy of India.
State of Qatar on India’s 71st Republic Minister of Transport is also emerging as a Our interface with the community and
Day. I also take this opportunity to ex- and Communica- popular destination for our outreach to the blue-collar work-
press my gratitude to the Amir of Qatar tions; HE Abdullah Indian weddings and ers in particular, is being continuously
HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, bin Nasser Turki al for filming of television expanded both directly and through the
The Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Subaie, Chairman serials and movies. medium of Indian community organiza-
Khalifa al Thani, the other members of of the Qatar Civil We look forward to tions. We remain in close contact with
the Royal Family and the Government Aviation Authority; enhanced contacts and the authorities concerned in Qatar, to
of the State of Qatar for their continued HE Staff Major Gen- connectivity between ensure the welfare and well-being of the
patronage and support for the Indian eral (Navy) Abdul- our peoples in the Indian nationals. We deeply appreciate
community in Qatar. lah Hassan M A al coming years. their cooperation and support in this
The overseas Indian community is Sulaiti, Commander Defence and regard. We welcome the recent policy
an integral part of India’s development
journey. This is equally true in the case
of the Qatari Amiri
Naval Forces and a HE P Kumaran security cooperation is
an important pillar of
reforms announced by the Government
of Qatar to protect the rights of expatri-
of Qatar, where the large and diverse delegation from the Ambassador of India our bilateral agenda. ate workers. These initiatives indicate
Indian community has earned a well- Qatari Ministry of to Qatar The last 12 months Qatar’s willingness to address labour is-
deserved reputation for its commitment, Education. witnessed a number of sues in a constructive manner. We look
hard work and law-abiding nature. India attaches great importance to bilateral activities, including the first ever forward to the full implementation of
While this is a time for us to celebrate its relations with the State of Qatar. India bilateral naval exercise ‘Zair Al Bahr’, these reforms, so that our blue-collared
India’s successes, it is also an occasion is the 3rd largest export destination for the 5th meeting of the Joint Defence workers can benefit from them.
for us to re-dedicate ourselves to the Qatar. Total bilateral trade reached $12.3 Cooperation Committee, the maiden visit I would like to take this opportunity
task of contributing to India’s ability to billion during 2018-19. Qatar is the of the Commander of the Qatari Amiri to thank the Indian community in Qatar
scale greater heights. largest supplier of LNG to India, ac- Naval Forces to India, the visit of a senior for their continued good work, which has
On this auspicious day, we also rec- counting for 55 percent of India’s global Qatari delegation to the National Defence earned for them a well-deserved reputa-
ognize and celebrate our deep-rooted, LNG imports and 15 percent of Qatar’s College and other key defence-related tion in Qatar for their sincerity, hard
historical and multi-faceted ties with total export of LNG. We look forward to think tanks in India and ship visits by work, technical expertise and law-abiding
Qatar, and take this opportunity to thank further enhancing our cooperation in the INS Mysore, INS Trikand and ICGS nature. As the Ambassador of India to
the people of Qatar for their warmth and energy sector, as India seeks to increase Samudra Pahredar. We look forward to Qatar, I am filled with pride when I hear
hospitality. the share of natural gas in its energy enhancing our bilateral engagement in from various Qatari dignitaries about
Our historical links serve as a solid mix in the next decade. Though largely maritime and naval cooperation, training, the valuable contributions made by the
foundation to our growing contempo- dominated by hydrocarbons, there are joint production and other areas. Indian community towards the growth
rary relationship. The multi-faceted plenty of opportunities to diversify our Cooperation in cultural and youth and development of Qatar over the years.
bilateral relationship between India and trade basket. Indian companies operat- affairs is another important dimension Today, India’s fast-paced growth, techno-
Qatar continues to strengthen further ing in Qatar are pursuing mutually-ben- of our bilateral relationship. 2019 was logical achievements, business-friendly
in various areas of our engagement, eficial collaborations in infrastructure, celebrated as the ‘India-Qatar Year of environment, skilled workforce and a vast
including political, energy, trade & information and communication technol- Culture’ and also marked the 150th consumer market, offer Qatar a unique
investment, security and defence and ogy, energy and other areas in Qatar, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. opportunity to be a partner in India’s
cultural spheres. Official bilateral in- contributing to Qatar’s preparedness for These celebrations offered us a unique growth and development story.
teractions continue at a regular pace to hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. opportunity of renewing and revitalizing As we celebrate our 71st Republic
boost mutually beneficial co-operation Twenty-four fully-owned Indian our special bonds of cultural heritage. Day, I again warmly congratulate the
between the two countries. We have companies and an estimated 6,000 The year-long celebrations included art Indian community in Qatar for their
had three highly successful visits at the Qatar-India joint ventures operate in exhibitions, folk and classical dance, contribution towards the development,
highest levels of the two governments various sectors of the Qatari economy, musical performances and concerts by progress and prosperity of our host
over the last four years, which have set underlining the depth of our economic leading Indian artists, film festivals, country, and for further strengthening
the framework for enhanced cooperation links. A number of Indian trade del- painting and photography exhibitions, the bonds of friendship and cooperation
across various areas. the Amir of Qatar egations have visited Qatar in recent calligraphy exhibitions, textile exhibi- between India and Qatar.
Qatar Tribune thanks the Embassy of India, Doha, for the support extended in preparing this supplement.
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MANAGING EDITOR: Louay Qaddoumi MARKETING: QT Advertising and Marketing Dept SUPPLEMENT EDITOR: Brahmananda Shasmal SUPPLEMENT DESIGN: Mufeesh Mohamedali
02 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
Can India’s UPI turn into a
In November, 1.2 billion
transactions took place via
UPI adding up to nearly Rs 1.9
lakh crore, according to data
global model? Google thinks so
from the National Payments
Corporation of India.
I
NDIA’S Unified Payment Interface, can best serve the end-users. Ad- tion. It also functions as a payments
launched in 2016, has seen great suc- ditionally, Google has asked gateway for websites.
cess domestically. Transactions have that technology companies At the base of the system is UPI,
surged, a number of payment service in the U.S. should be permit- on top of which customers can ei-
providers have built their platforms atop ted to access the end-users’ ther use the NPCI’s BHIM app,
UPI and customers have quickly adapted bank account information at their banking applications or
to it. the request of the customer. any of the numerous payments
At last count, in November, 1.2 billion In response, Google has cited the ex- It also says that the apps that have emerged in the last
transactions took place via UPI adding up perience of the UPI model used in India. FedNow Service should en- few years like Paytm, PhonePe or
to nearly Rs 1.9 lakh crore, according to “UPI was thoughtfully planned and able “push” or “pull” transac- Google Pay.
data from the National Payments Corpo- critical aspects of its design led to its tion requests so that technology Nearly 90 percent of transac-
ration of India. success,” said Google’s Vice President companies can build a platform tions on UPI are person-to-per-
Now UPI, which was built by the NPCI of Government Affairs and Public Policy where the user can initiate son transactions, where
and operates on an open-payments frame- Mark Isakowitz, in a letter to Fed’s board payments services with neither the bank nor
work, is getting global attention. Google of governors the dated Nov 7. Bloomb- the bank executing the payments ap-
LLC has recommended that the US Fed- ergQuint has seen a copy of the letter. transactions at the plication earns a
eral Reserve implement a real-time pay- “After just three years, the annual run back-end, similar fee. Therefore,
ments platform, on the lines of India’s rate of transactions flowing through UPI is to UPI’s design. these players
UPI. about 19 percent of India’s Gross Domestic UPI’s sys- aim to build
In August this year, the board of gov- Product, including 800 million monthly tem allows their revenues
ernors of the Federal Reserve published a transactions valued at approximately $19 banks, e-wal- by cross-
paper where it proposed to develop a new billion,” Iskowitz said, adding that Google lets and pay- selling other
inter-bank 24x7 real-time gross settle- Pay, the company’s flagship payments ap- ment service services,
ment service, which would support faster plication in India, is now one of the three providers to particularly
payments in the US. leading UPI mobile applications. connect to through
The central bank invited suggestions Google has recommended that the Fed the platform merchant
from relevant stakeholders on what the pursue a similar model of open-payments, and build partner-
design and features of the ‘FedNow’ Ser- which is what UPI is based on, so that the services on ships.
vice could look like. The service may be private entities are given flexibility to col- a mobile
rolled out by 2023 or 2024, the paper says. laborate to find unique solutions, which applica-
71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 03
04 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
India to be largest energy
growth market by 2030
PTI Pradhan said while the global average
I
growth was 1.4 percent, India was see-
India, Asia’s NDIA, Asia’s second biggest en- ing a growth rate of 4.5 percent.
ergy consumer since 2008, had “We will use a combination of con-
second biggest in 2015 overtaken Japan as the ventional fuel and other more sustain-
world’s third largest oil consum- able options to create a balanced en-
energy consumer ing country, behind the US and ergy mix. We will also explore other
China. new and sustainable sources of energy
since 2008, had India will overtake China as the like hydrogen. Technology, innovation
largest growth market for energy in will play an important role in this,” he
in 2015 overtaken volume terms by 2030, Oil Minister said.
Dharmendra Pradhan said. He also said that India is moving
Japan as the world’s “We are third largest energy con- towards a gas-based economy and in-
sumer now but by 2030 we will be No.1 vestments of about $100 billion are
third largest oil energy consumer,” he said at a FICCI underway in India’s energy infrastruc-
meeting. While energy consumption ture, including renewables.
consuming country will grow by 4.5 per cent per annum Speaking about bio energy, he
— faster than all major economies in said, “India has 600 million tonnes
the world — India’s consump- of bio mass. On one hand we are
tion growth of fossil fuels ensuring the highest standards of
would be the largest in sustainability through BS-VI, on
the world. the other hand, we have made a
The country is roadmap to convert this bio mass to
83 percent depend- energy. 5,000 plants are going to be
ent on imports to set up for this.
meet its oil needs Oil and gas PSUs are giving uptake
and sources half guarantee and price stability. This will
of its natural gas also be an answer to the problem of
from overseas. environment pollution.”
71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 05
06 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
BILATERAL RELATIONS
QATARGAS DELIVERS 2,000TH LNG CARGO TO INDIA MINISTER OF CULTURE AND SPORTS RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF INDIA
Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) announced a historic milestone as it Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah
successfully delivered the 2,000th liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to India. The cargo, bin Ghanem al Ali met Ambassador of India
transported on-board ‘Aseem,’ a conventional LNG vessel with a capacity of 155,000 cubic to Qatar HE P Kumaran. They discussed
metres, was loaded at the Ras Laffan Port on 17th November and delivered to India’s Dahej aspects of cooperation between the two
LNG Terminal, owned and operated by Petronet LNG Limited. countries in the cultural and sports fields and
Qatargas had signed a 25-year Long term Free On Board (FOB) Sale and Purchase Agreement the ways to develop them.
(SPA) with Petronet. It loads around 116 cargoes per a year to India under this SPA in addition
to supplying significant volumes into the short term and spot markets.
INDIAN UNIVERSITY OPENS FIRST EVER
IEI - CENTENARY INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER IN QATAR FOR DIASPORA
ENGINEERING CONGRESS Maharashtra’s
Savitribai
Phule Pune
Universit
(STPU) and Qa-
tar’s Milestone
International
Education
signed an MoU
enabling the University to set up its campus in
Doha with an aim to provide opportunities in BILATERAL TALKS ON
higher education to nearly eight million Indian
diaspora based in Qatar. The campus will be
AIR TRANSPORT
fully functional from next semester onwards. Civil aviation authorities of Qatar and India
Ambassador of Qatar to India HE Muhammad held bilateral talks in New Delhi (November
Khater al Khater , Dr Ibrahim saleh al Nuaimi, 18). The talks dealt with the operation of
The Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG) and the Institution of Engineers, India Secretary Ministry of Higher Education in the airlines, the volume of trade and the rela-
(IEI) –Qatar Chapter launched the Centenary International Engineering Congress (CIEC) on State of Qatar, Ali bin Abdul Latif Almuhandi tions between the civil aviation authorities
September 26 and 27 at Qatar University. The theme of the Congress is ‘Smart Engineering Member, Qatar Chamber, Professor Nitin R of the two countries. The Qatari delegation
— State of the Art Technologies in Oil & Gas and Infrastructure Development’. This annual Karmalkar, Vice Chancelor, Savitribi Phule Pune was headed by Abdullah bin Nasser Turki al
engineering seminar, organised prior to Engineer’s Day celebrations, was well-attended by University along with registrar of the University, Subaey, President of the CAA and the Indian
over 100 member engineers across various disciplines. The opening session will feature Ashraf Akhlaque, Advisor of the Ambassador delegation by Pradeep Singh Kharola, the
speeches from QU President Dr Hassan al Derham, Ambassador of India to Qatar HE P Ku- of Qatar, senior officials of Qatar’s Ministry of Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation Govern-
maran, IEI President Dr Er TM Gunaraja and Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Higher Education were present when the MoU ment of India. Qatar Airways Group Chief
Innovation Chief Advisor Dr Nabeel al Salem. was signed on Nov 28. Executive Akbar al Baker was also present.
| JANUARY 26, 2020 | 07
71st Republic Day of
BILATERAL RELATIONS COMMUNITY WELFARE
MEETING WITH DR DC KATOCH, AN EXHIBITION: ISLAMIC MONUMENTS OF INDIA
ADVISER, MINISTRY OF AYUSH Ambassador of India, P Kumaran,
inaugurated the “ISLAMIC MONU-
Dr DC Katoch, Adviser, Ministry of MENTS OF INDIA – an photography
AYUSH, Govt of India, met with HE exhibition, at Katara Cultural Village
Mohammed Hamad J al Thani, Director, held as part of India–Qatar 2019
Public Health, and senior officials in the Year Of Culture. The exhibition ran
Ministry of Public Health. from September 17– 28, 2019. The
exhibition featured pictures by Indian
photographer Mr Benoy K Behl on
the Islamic architecture and Islamic monuments in India. Behl is reportedly the most widely-
travelled Indian photographer, with over 53,000 photographs to his credit.
KAABI MEETS INDIA’S
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM &
NATURAL GAS AND STEEL QATAR, INDIA & THE GULF: MUGHAL-E-AZAM: THE PLAY
Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petro-
leum & Natural Gas and Steel, Govt of
HISTORY, CULTURE & SOCIETY
An Exhibition titled ‘Qatar, India and the Gulf:
India, met with HE Saad Sherida al Kaabi,
History, Culture and Society’ was opened on
the Minister of State for Energy Affairs of
October 31, 2019. It was organised by Qatar
Qatar, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy and natural gas. The minister
National Library (QNL) under the umbrella
interacted with CEOs and senior executives of oil and gas industries in Qatar, September
of the India-Qatar Year of Culture 2019. The
11, 2019.
event explored the longstanding historical
connections between India and Qatar in par-
TRANSPORT MINISTER MEETS WITH INDIAN CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER ticular and the Gulf region in general.
Minister of Transport and Communications
HE Jassim Saif Ahmed al Sulaiti met with the
BHARAT VASTRAM
Indian Minister of Civil Aviation HE Hardeep The Qatar Foundation, in partnership with the Em- The grandeur of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s
Singh Puri, in Montreal, Canada (September bassy of India and VCU Arts Qatar, hosted a la- palace was brought to the audience in
25). The two officials discussed aspects of dies-only cultural and fashion show titled ‘Bharat Qatar by a galaxy of talented stage art-
cooperation in the fields of air transport, civil Vastram’ on 20 Sep 2019, at the auditorium of ists in the form of a theatre performance
aviation and airports and means of further en- VCU Arts Qatar. This event explored the distinct “Mughal-E-Azam”. The engaging story and
hancing them. They also discussed potential forms and colours of dresses from each of the the technical sophistication, coupled with
investment opportunities available in those 29 states of India, and the diverse traditions and catchy and crisp dialogues and live songs
fields, in addition to a number of matters of rich heritage they represent. The event, followed maintaining the sumptuousness and
common interest between the two friendly by a reception, was well-attended by Qataris and majesty of the original 1960 film, kept the
countries. other expatriate communities in Qatar. audience spellbound.
08 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
COMMUNITY WELFARE
GANDHI JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS 45 INDIAN COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN
Indian Embassy together with VCUarts
‘HOSPITALITY QATAR 2019’ EXPO
Qatar held a Fashion-cum-Exhibition Show Around 45 prominent Indian com-
“CELEBRATING KHADI: The Fabric of panies engaged in the food and
Freedom and sustainability” to mark 150th hospitality sectors participated
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Re- in the 4th edition of ‘Hospitality
nowned Bengaluru based fashion designer Qatar 2019’ exhibition organised
Prasad Bidapa presented the show. During by IFP Qatar from November 12
the course of the event, to 14 at Doha Exhibition and
Indian Embassy and Qatar Convention Center (DECC).
Post jointly released a com- The Indian pavilion was coordinat-
memorative postage stamp ed by the Trade Promotion Council
to mark 150th birth anniver- of India (TPCI) in partnership with
sary of Mahatma Gandhi. celebration of the Qatar-India 2019 the Embassy of India, Doha. The
Indian Sports Center held a year of culture. Indian pavilion was inaugurated
cycle rally to mark Gandhi’s Celebrating the life of a man known by Ambassador of India, P Kumaran. The TPCI delegation exhibited their Food & Beverage
150th birth anniversary. as the father of India, Dr Faisal (F&B) products during the Exhibition in the following categories – rice, pulses, confection-
Qatar National Library and Qatar Foundation Davji, Director of South Asia History at Oxford ery, grocery, dehydrated vegetables, Indian ethnic products, packaging machines & materi-
Community Development jointly organised a University, the UK, delivered a lecture that als and linen for the hospitality Industry.
lecture, ‘Gandhi after 150 years’, recently to explored Gandhi’s idea of non-violence and
mark the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma its ongoing relevance for many communities
Gandhi 150 years ago as part of the library’s across the world today.
PASSAGE TO INDIA
OBSERVATION OF THE CONSTITUTION DAY Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in associa-
tion with the Museum of Islamic Art
Embassy of India Doha observed the 70th Constitution (MIA) and the Indian Embassy organised
Day on November 26, 2019. On this occasion, Ambas- ‘Passage To India’, a community festi-
sador P Kumaran read the Preamble to the Constitu- val at MIA Park on January 16 and 17,
tion of India. A short video was played and pictorial 2020. The grand culmination showcas-
representation of events related to the Making of the ing India’s cultural diversity and gran-
Constitution of India was displayed. Shantiniketan deur was inaugurated by Ambassador
hosted Quiz Competition 2019 on Mahatma Gandhi, Dr P Kumaran on January 16. The event
BR Ambedkar and Constitution of India. It was organ- featured replica of monument Red Fort.
ised by the Embassy of India. Fifteen Indian schools participated in the Inter-School Quiz to Stalls/outlets showcased various cus-
celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the 70th year of the Indian Con- toms/features/materials from different states in India as well as food outlets, by licensed
stitution and the Ambedkar Jayanti. On these occasions, resource materials were furnished Indian vendors, providing various delicacies from different parts of India to visitors. Over
by the Embassy. Students took the National pledge. 10,000 visitors attended the event each day. Around 650 people performed in the event.71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 09
Big push for electric mobility:
5,645 electric buses in 65 cities
AIIB announces $210 mn loan for
EXPRESS DRIVES DESK The government, as part of its Rs
I
10,000 crore FAME II scheme currently
N a move which is going to further provides incentives for electric vehicles
the cause of reduction of pollution for commercial purposes along with
irrigation & solar energy projects
generated from pubic transport, providing support for charging infra-
the inter-ministerial committee for structure. These incentives, extend to
Electric Vehicles has sanctioned private two-wheelers as well. In the re-
5,645 electric buses for intracity opera- cent budget announcement, the Finance
T
HE total commitments to the coun- financed by the World Bank and is ex- tions in 65 cities and Ministry announced con-
try stand at $3 billion, which is pected to strengthen the management intercity operations The inter-ministerial cessions on the loan taken
about a third of total of $10 billion. of the Damodar Valley Command Area to 8 state transport for the purchase of electric
The irrigation project in West Bengal is irrigation scheme, the statement said. undertakings accord- committee for EVs vehicles. Also recently, the
co-financed by the World Bank and is The funds will also be used to mod- ing to Niti Aayog CEO has sanctioned 5,645 GST council, accepting the
expected to strengthen the management ernise irrigation infrastructure at main, Amitabh Kant said the electric buses for Finance Ministry’s pro-
of the Damodar Valley Command Area branch, distributary and minor canal same in a recent tweet. posal, has reduced taxes
irrigation scheme, the statement said. levels and invest in structural measures These buses, which intracity operations in on electric vehicles from
The Beijing-based Asian Infra- to reduce flooding in the project area, are going to be manu- 65 cities and for intercity 12 percent to 5 percent.
structure Investment Bank (AIIB) an- it said. The bank statement said West factured in India, will In addition to this, certain
nounced a total loan of $210 million for Bengal has 37,660 square kilometres be given to select cit-
operations to 8 state parts of electric vehicles
irrigation and solar energy projects in prone to floods out of its total area of ies and state transport transport undertakings. have also been exempted
India. The multilateral institution will 88,752 square kilometers and regularly departments at a sub- from customs duty.
lend $145 million to improve irrigation faces floods, and climate change may sidised rate and are Niti Aayog had earlier
services and strengthen flood risk man- only aggravate the problems. also going to promote ‘Make in India’. proposed all two-wheelers, under 150cc
agement in West Bengal, while $65 mil- “This investment will help thousands This move to introduce electric buses capacity should be converted to all-elec-
lion has been earmarked for a 250-meg- of farmers get adequate water through in the arena of public transport is part tric models by March.
awatt (MW) solar project in Rajasthan scientific water conservation and distri- of the Central Government’s massive
promoted by Hero Future Energies, an bution methods,” its Vice-President and push for EV in India.
official statement said here. Chief Investment Officer D J Pandian “The inter-ministerial committee for
India is the second-largest share- was quoted as saying. EVs has sanctioned 5,645 electric buses
holder of the bank and the largest re- The body has also approved a for intracity operations in 65 cities and
cipient of its loan and equity commit- $65-million 250-megawatt solar power for intercity operations to 8 state trans-
ments. The total commitments to the project in Jodhpur promoted by inde- port undertakings. This will give huge
country stand at $3 billion, which is pendent power producer Hero, it said impetus to automobile sector, clean up
about a third of total of $10 billion. The adding that there are plans to ramp up our cities & drive Make in India,” Kant
irrigation project in West Bengal is co- the capacity to 616 MW by 2022. said in a tweet.
HPI begins operations to
deliver quality products
H
P Industries WLL (HPI)
has commenced its oper-
ations as part of a plan to
deliver quality products
with green credentials. Recently,
HP Industries (HPI) Qatar has be-
come a signatory of the United Na-
tions Global Compact (UNGC), the
world’s “largest and most widely
embraced corporate sustainabil-
ity initiative”. With this, HPI joins
few first organisations and prob-
ably first manufacturing firm in
Qatar to bag the prestigious entry.
The Qatar-based company
operates under POLYRRON & M S Bukhari, Managing Director
GReeN Foam brand. It produces HP Industries WLL, Doha, Qatar
thermal insulation board and
complete range of construction chemicals ranging from grouts, coatings, sealants
and specialty products. Contrary to the generally available XPS insulation boards,
HPI under GReeN Foam brand has developed an eco-friendly, non-flammable in-
sulation board which not only conserves energy but also keeps you safe through-
out. The construction chemical division under POLYRRON brand envisages high
quality specialty products with superior performance and cater to the needs of
ever growing demands of construction industry.
HPI has a fully functional designated research and development laboratory
that spreads over 1,000 sqm. It contribute to the realisation of a sustainable
society by developing technologies from three perspectives to reduce environ-
mental impact at every stage of product life cycles, energy conservation and
global warming mitigation. The in-house R&D team has developed some breath-
taking advancement in the fields of coatings, sealants and insulation. The HPI
manufacturing facilities are certified with ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and ISO
45001:2018 integrated management systems.
With the new operations in Qatar, HPI aims to bridge the gaps facing the
construction sector.10 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
IAMGAZAL
Making a fashion statement
F
ASHION and lifestyle influencer
M Gazal Shaikh is someone who
we call global minded. Gazal,
who hails from India with a de-
gree in fashion designing, is a
name to reckon with in Qatar. The begin-
ning of Gazal’s blog page #IAMGAZAL
thats today boasts of more than 180,000
followers was started with a firm deter-
mination to inspire others by sharing
her thoughts and views about fashion
and life in Qatar.
The blog has touched countless
Indian and Arab hearts in Qatar,
because of its creative writing,
excellent reviews and beautiful
photography.
Her blog is becoming
popular in Qatar and abroad
through the platform of her
Instagram account IAM- Secrets, Master Card, Hyundai, Malabar
GAZAL. Gold and Diamonds and many more.
Gazal has been work- Gazal has a very simple and elegant
ing since 2014 as a blog- blog. If you are somebody who likes ef-
ger in Doha. And due fortless style and simple living then IAM-
to its quality content GAZAL is the perfect blog to get your
and amazing reviews, hands and eyes on.
she has been able “Frequently, I post about Indian
to collaborate with fashion and places which reflect my love
brands like Rolls towards my culture,” she said.
Royce, Massimo The initial posts that would attract
Dutti, Victoria you to Gazal’s Instagram page are the71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 11
and the kind of response I was getting. sphere goes to her followers who are like
That is when I thought of taking it to a family to her.
professional level and invested my time “My followers believed in me from
to find out the ways where my work can the beginning when my family and
look more professional and appealing to friends thought of starting my own
the audience, this is how my blogging business would be a better choice. But
began,” said Gazal. my heart said otherwise. I believed in
Having a fashion background and myself and started working on my blog.”
being updated about styling With time, her family and friends
even before she started her started appreciating her work while her
fashion designing, she Instagram family grew.
has a good sense of “I began focussing on improving the
colour combination quality of my work. I needed to ensure
which helps her to my work to be inspiring and moreover
get noticed by re- I wanted my followers to be proud of
nowned brands. my journey,” she shares.
Being in the
field of social
media for over five
years and having a
bloggers. So whenever Indians based in large follower base,
GCC or Qatar would come across her Gazal gives us a few
blog they would follow her and always tips on how to market
write a note to her, mentioning that an Instagram page.
they feel proud of her. “Some of them “Before you begin
leave a thank you note to me after read- to market, you need to
ing my blog, especially where I share my be sure that you have
thoughts and views which has boosted enough content to
their confidence and cleared many of market yourself,” she
their doubts which they generally see says.
after moving to an Arab country,” she “Content is fore-
clean and clutter free pictures, the care said. most, and only if you
with which the entire wall of her Insta- On her achievements, Gazal said, are sure that you will
gram is organised. “IAMGAZAL, my blog has given me keep the commit-
Gazal used to post her travel and the platform where I can flaunt what ment of bringing
style photos on her Instagram account I liked the most. It has given me the the best, then you
and gradually started being noticed by power of speaking my mind and sharing should go all out
people from Qatar who liked her styling my thoughts with thousands of people. to achieve your
and the way she captured her photos, Through this blog I got to know so many dream.”
which resulted in 182,000 followers on people who are at the other side of the Gazal says
her account. mobile and have amazing and inspiring that the credit
When Gazal started blogging in Qa- stories to share with me.” for her success
tar there were not many Indian fashion “I started loving what I was doing in the blogging12 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
Women in tech workforce rises
from 21% to 30% in 5 years
Women now constitute 30% Pari Natarajan, CEO of Zinnov, women-led startups, company best practices that are helping
said concerted efforts over the and encouraging other to encourage women to stay on at the
of the workforce, up from years have moved the nee- women entrepre- workplace, or to return to it if they leave.
about 21% five years ago, dle from 21 percent to 30
percent. “However, the
neurs are some
of the more
PayPal’s six-week recharge pro-
gramme is focused on empowering
according to a study by Intel commitment to change impactful ini- women technologists who have taken a
needs to move beyond tiatives that break from work for one to five years. Mi-
and consulting firm Zinnov an organisational set- organisa- crosoft’s Springboard programme helps
ting and include an tions need to returning women with flexible work op-
ecosystem-wide lens. actively look tions, technical upskilling sessions, and
Enabling science, tech- at,” he said. assigns them a project guide to support
SUJIT JOHN | TNN nology, engineering For eve- them on projects.
A
and mathematics ry two girls, Flipkart has 24 weeks of maternity
LL the effort that companies career options for there are five leave, an additional four months of flexi-
in the technology and related young women, boys enrolling working hours with full pay, and a year’s
industries in India are putting supporting for professional unpaid leave of absence to new mothers.
into hiring women is bearing courses, accord- Intel India head Nivruti Rai said a key
fruit. Women now constitute 30 ing to the All India initiative the company has taken up is
percent of the workforce, up from about 21 Council for Technical Women Innovators, Social Leaders and
percent five years ago, according to a study Education. This definitely Entrepreneurs, a charter to accelerate
by Intel and consulting firm Zinnov. impacts the number of wom- the participation of women in all aspects
At the junior level, the figure is as high en transitioning from campus of the workforce. The study evaluated 60
as 38 percent. But that drops to 20 percent to corporate, Zinnov said. Wom- companies, big and small. It found that
at the midlevel, and to 11 percent at the en’s role as the primary caregiver large companies have the highest women
senior level. Considering women are over at home and patriarchal attitudes are representation at 33 percent, while medi-
48 percent of the total population, there’s other reasons for the lower representa- umsized ones have 27 percent and small
still a lot of ground for them to cover. tion. The report identifies a number of companies only 21 percent.
Qatar Automobiles Company launches
special offer on Mitsubishi Pajero 2020
Q
ATAR Automobiles Company, the author-
ized distributor of Mitsubishi Motors Cor-
poration in Qatar, has launched its special
offer on Mitsubishi Pajero model 2020.
The offer includes several benefits in-
cluding 1-year free comprehensive insurance and
1-year free registration, 3 years warranty, free ser-
vice for one year or up to 20,000 km, in addition to
an Ikea coupon worth QR5,000. Customers can also
benefit from internal finance by NBK Financial Ser-
vices (Terms and Conditions apply), with 20 percent
advance payment and monthly installments over 48
months.
HE Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al Thani, Operations
Director — Auto at Nasser Bin Khaled Group, said:
“Qatar Automobiles Company is launching this new
offer with the beginning of the new year on Pajero
2020 that has always been one of the best in its cat-
egory. The new offer gives the customers flexible op-
tions to own their favorite new car. They can now pay
monthly installments and enjoy wide range of ben-
efits. We are confident that such offers help Qatari
residents to drive a reliable new car that meet their
needs and demands.” V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic, or a 3.8-litre some of the best safety features including 6 airbags,
Hesham Alsahn, General Manager of Qatar V6 engine mated to a 5-speed auto. The stand- active traction control, active stability control, among
Automobiles Company, said: “Mitsubishi Pa- ard package includes Active Trac four-wheel- others.
jero has a long heritage and high capabilities drive with rear-wheel, full-time all-wheel All the cars are available now in Mitsubishi Mo-
that meet the demands and needs of cus- and 4WD high and low range with locked tors Showroom on Salwa Road. Customers can
tomers. The 2020 model is available now center differential. visit the showroom at Salwa Road from Saturday to
for our customers in Qatar to enjoy driving a The long-wheelbase model holds Thursday from 8 am to 9 pm and on Friday from 5
new vehicle with modern features”. seven passengers, with a third-row seat pm to 9 pm, and Al Khor Showroom from Saturday
The Pajero is a true off-roader, and a legend in its that can be folded into a well in the cargo area floor to Wednesday from 8 am to 8 pm, and on Thursday
own right. Powertrain options were either a 3.5-litre or removed entirely. The vehicle also embraces from 8 am to 3 pm.71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 13
India-Qatar bilateral
SATYENDRA PATHAK
trade on solid footing his accompanying delegation visited
E
Qatar in September last year to discuss
CONOMIC relations between importing more LNG and other pet-
India and Qatar have grown rochemical products from Qatar. He
from strength to strength also expressed India’s desire to partner
over the years as both the with Qatar on energy projects in other
countries are working very countries. “India is working to increase
closely to further expand and deepen its share of LNG in its energy mix from
the level of cooperation in several areas. the current 6-7 percent to 20 percent.
Strengthening trade ties between To achieve this goal we need to import
the two countries is evident from the more gas. In such a situation India
sharp growth in bilateral trade between banks heavily on Qatar,” Kumaran said.
the two countries in the last couple of The two countries also witnessed
years. Trade volume between the two positive developments in the area of
countries increased substantially to investment in 2019. Qatar’s sovereign
$7.71 billion in the first nine months chemicals, petroleum gases, fertilizers The trade volume between the two wealth announced to invest about $450
of 2019, according to the latest data re- among others. countries is expected to grow at the million in a power distribution com-
leased by Qatar Chamber. While the trade balance has been same pace as Qatar holds a lot of signifi- pany controlled by Indian billionaire
While Qatari exports to India in favour of Qatar for the last several cance in securing India’s growing need Gautam Adani, the latest in a series of
amounted to $6.51 billion, Qatar’s im- years, India’s exports to Qatar especial- for LNG. Despite the entry of several foreign investments in India’s energy
ports from India amounted to $1.2 bil- ly after the blockade have registered a new players like the US and Australia sector.
lion during this period. phenomenal growth. in the current gas market, India will Byju’s, an Indian learning app, also
The bilateral trade between India India’s exports to Qatar jumped continue to grow its engagement with announced in 2019 that it has received
and Qatar further accelerated after the more than 100 percent to reach almost Qatar, a well-established energy power an investment of $150 million led by
unjust blockade in June 2017. $1.6 billion in the financial year 2018- in the Gulf. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the
Soon after the blockade, Qatar’s 2019 from $800 million in 2016-2017, Following its exit from the Organi- sovereign wealth fund of Qatar.
Ministry of Transport and Communi- according to the Indian embassy in sation of Petroleum Exporting Coun- As far as overall investments are
cations launched a new direct maritime Qatar. tries (OPEC) in 2019, Qatar announced concerned, Qatari investors have
route between Qatar and India for the “The volume of trade between In- its intention to concentrate exclusively pumped in more than 2 billion into the
transport of goods. dia and Qatar reached above $12.5 bil- on the development of natural gas. Indian economy till date. On the other
This new route links Qatar’s Ham- lion in 2018-2019, out of which close Qatar is planning to increase its LNG hand, Indian companies have also in-
ad Port with Mundra and Nhava Sheva to $11 billion were India’s imports production capacity by more than 60 vested nearly $2 billion in Qatar. Both
ports in India. mainly of LNG and other petrochemi- percent from 77 million tonnes a year sides have been taking active steps to
The Qatar Chamber data showed cal products from Qatar. Our exports to 126 million tonnes by 2027. From further expand the economic and com-
that the trade exchanges between Qatar to Qatar reached almost $1.6 billion, the perspective of reliability, Qatar is mercial partnership.
and India jumped to $12.12 billion in a huge increase compared to previous eager to prove itself as a credible mar- In a meeting held recently in New
2018 from $8.53 billion in 2016, reg- years,” Indian Ambassador to Qatar ket player in the LNG business. For in- Delhi, Qatar Free Zones Authority Di-
istering an increase of over 42 percent HE P Kumaran told Qatar Tribune. In stance, despite facing a blockade, Qatar rector Wilson Chan said it is possible to
in just two years. When compared on a the financial year 2017-2018 alone, he has continued to supply natural gas to shift an entire factory from Delhi and
yearly basis, the bilateral trade volume said, India’s exports to Qatar grew 87 different markets. relocate to Qatar’s free zones.
increased by nearly 24 percent in 2018 percent. From the perspective of energy “There are no restrictions even on
against $9.78 billion in 2017. Major Qatari imports from India in- security, this behaviour by Qatar in- the movement of labour. You can im-
Qatar’s trade surplus with India clude food, rice, iron, and steel, refrig- creases confidence amongst consumer port all the labour from any country
reached $5.315 billion in the first nine erators, furniture, footwear, freezers, countries like India. It would do well or can even hire locally from available
months of 2019. The trade surplus types of machinery, garments, appar- for India to increase the volumes of its poor of human resources,” said Chang.
against India was $8.15 billion in 2018, els and a wide range of food products LNG imports from Qatar at a later date. According to reliable sources, about
registering a significant growth of near- and medicine and medical instru- Qatar supplies 8.5 million tonnes 10 manufactures from India have
ly 21 percent against $6.63 billion in ments. a year of liquefied natural gas to India. signed deals to set up their units in Qa-
2017. Qatar is India’s single largest source of tar’s free zones.
Qatar’s trade surplus with India is imported gas. The extensive infrastructure de-
due to the fact the energy-hungry India India’s Minister of Petro- velopment in Qatar as it prepares to
is one of the major importers of Qa- leum and Natural Gas host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and
tari LNG. It also imports min- Dharmendra potential for increasing Qatar’s invest-
eral fuels, mineral oils, Pradhan ment in India present a win-win sce-
chemicals, petro- and nario for both the countries.14 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
R
Roots Qatar
OOTS Qatar WLL is one of skilled painters, technicians under the
the leading contracting com- supervision of experiencedsupervisors
panies in Qatar that pro- and technical staff.
vides top quality interior and Our Quality objective of the compa-
exterior paintings, epoxy ny is to comply with the requirements
coatings, all kinds of waterproofing of the customer to his complete satis-
solutions, performance flooring, tank faction by anticipating and exceeding
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tural strengthening & concrete repair by timely execution of the projects with
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zo flooring, vinyl flooring for various levels of work. High standards of qual-
mega projects. We had also success- ity and safety shall be, maintained by
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Line and Red Line Metro Project. Also ciplined team of work force with and
we are doing major stadium projects aptitude for continual improvement
for 2022 FIFA World Cup including based on the exposure and customer
quality services
Khalifa Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium and feedback.
Al Thumama Stadium, QPD, Umm
Al Haul-IWPP. Roots Qatar carries a OUR FIELD OF EXPERTISE:
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Ashghal, Kahramaa, Qatar Petroleum Crack Injection /Grouting
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Roots Qatar launched its contracting fields in the Middle East. Roots Qatar ers, water proofing technicians, fire Protective Coating /Painting
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The company has professionals of tive means. We employ a team of expe- floor coating, water proofing and fire Vinyl Flooring
vast experience in various engineering rienced and qualified machinery, paint- proofing works with a team of highly- Fire Proofing71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 15
16 | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 71st Republic Day of
Women lead the
way in sports
Such has been their
achievements that for the first
time the sports nominations
for the national Padma awards
comprised an all-women list
PV Sindhu
VINAY NAYUDU kyo 2020 Olympic quotas.
DOHA Cueist Pankaj Advani claimed his
T
23rd World title to complete a hat-
OP sportswomen of India trick of hat-tricks in billiards -- hold-
emerged with flying col- ing the World, Asian and Indian titles
ours to mark a remarkable simultaneously in five different years
year winning big accolades. in 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019.
Such has been their achieve- A big high point for India in foot-
ments that for the first time the sports ball came when the national team
nominations for the national Padma held Asian champions Qatar to a goal-
awards consisted of an all-women list. less draw in a 2022 World Cup quali-
The list included boxer Mary Kom, fying match in Doha.
badminton player PV Sindhu, wres- In athletics, India’’s Avinash Sa-
tler Vinesh Phogat, cricketer Har- ble excelled in the steeplechase at the
manpreet Kaur, table tennis player 2019 IAAF World Championships in
Manika Batra, women’s hockey team Doha securing a ticket to 2020 Tokyo
captain Rani Rampal, shooter Suma Olympics. India’s mixed 4x400m re-
Shirur, and mountaineers and twin lay team also secured a quota place
sisters Tashi and Nungshi Malik. India held Qatar to a goalless draw in the World Cup qualifying match in Doha. for Tokyo.
Here’s a look at these stars’ super The Indian shooting contingent
achievements. She is also the first Indian woman silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games which secured a record 15 Olympic
wrestler to win gold in both the Com- in Jakarta, Indonesia. Earlier in 2010, quota places for Tokyo Olympics, won
Mary Kom: The six-time World monwealth and Asian Games, and the she was the youngest player in the a whopping five golds, 10 silver and 11
champion boxer clinched the world first Indian athlete to get nominated national team at the age of 15 and par- bronze medals at the Asian Shooting
title in 48-kg category at home for a for Laureus World Sports Awards. ticipated in the 2010 World Cup. Championship held Lusail in Qatar in
record sixth time. She is now look- November.
ing forward to qualify for her second Manika Batra: The table tennis Suma Shirur: The Indian shoot- This included ace women shoot-
Olympics — the 2020 Tokyo Games. player led the Indian women’s team er had won gold at the Common- ers Manu Bhaker, Anjum Moudgil,
to a historic gold medal win at the wealth Games in Manchester in the Kajal Saini, Tejaswini Sawant, Apurvi
PV Sindhu: The badminton 2018 Commonwealth Games 10m air rifle event. Chandela, Yashaswini Deswal and
player became the first Indian in in Gold Coast, Australia. Annu Raj Singh among others.
2019 to win a BWF World Cham- India beat four-time Tashi and Nungshi Malik:
pionship title. She defeated her gold medalists and Tashi and Nungshi Malik have been
bitter rival Nozomi Okuhara of defending champions the first twin sisters to climb Mount
Japan in a lopsided final in Ba- Singapore in the final. Everest, Seven Summits and reach
sel, Switzerland, 21-7, 21-7 in the North and South Poles and com-
the summit clash. Harmanpreet plete the Adventurers Grand Slam
Kaur: India’s T20I and Three Poles Challenge.
Vinesh Phogat: Became skipper Harmanpreet While these women have kept the
India’s first wrestler to win Kaur became the first Indian tricolour flying high, there Manu
an Olympic quota at the Indian woman to score a were other glittering achievements Bhaker
World Championships century in a Women’s too starting with the Indian men’s
in Nur Sultan, Ka- Twenty20 Inter- cricket team’s maiden series triumph
zakhstan. After los- national (WT20I) in Australia, which many considered
ing her round of match in November to be their greatest in recent times.
16 in the 53kg, 2018. Kaur, who Then, the Virat Kohli-led outfit white-
the 25-year-old had also excelled washed Bangladesh 2-0 to register
girl defeated Sa- at women’s ODI their 12th consecutive series win at
rah Hilderbrandt World Cup, was home for a world record.
of the United awarded the Jasprit Bumrah became the third
States, Yuliya prestigious Ar- Indian to take a hat-trick in Test
Khalvadzhy juna Award in cricket. His exploits came against
of Ukraine the year 2017. the West Indies at Kingston.
and Maria Elsewhere, Indian shooters
Prevolaraki of Rani Ram- dominated the World Cups and the
Greece to win pal: Indian wom- Season Finals winning 21 gold, six sil-
the bronze en’s hockey team cap- ver and three bronze medals. In the
Mary Kom
medal. tain led the team to a process, India earned a record 15 To-71st Republic Day of | JANUARY 26, 2020 | 17
MG RX8 SUV:
Effortlessly elegant
SATYENDRA PATHAK tilated seats and wireless mobile device
DOHA charging capabilities make the RX8
T
the perfect partner for an active family.
HE recently launched first- The car features six speakers around
ever seven-seat SUV by MG the cabin with a very punchy bass and
Motor is effortlessly elegant sound.
and I was gutted to hand A robust and spacious SUV – with
back the keys after a day- the largest wheelbase in its segment —
long test drive on and off Qatari roads. the new seven-seater introduces MG
The all new MG RX8 SUV is one of Motor to a segment it has previously
the nicest cars I have driven all through never been present in. The MG RX8 is
my over 12 years of stay in Qatar as it a fully equipped 4x4 with six different
is one of those cars that makes driving driving modes. Its strong truck chassis
very pleasurable and effortless. frame is capable of handling the tough-
The car’s good look, comfort level, est off-road terrains and is powered by
and refined luxury make it one of the an efficient 220HP 2.0-litre turbo en-
best bargains given its price range that gine.
starts from below QR90,000 in Qatar. The car features a wall socket of up
The car comes with some surpris- to 150 watts output meaning you can
ing features for its price point. It is a charge your laptop. This car also fea-
very good looking car with elegant lines tures an air purifier that keeps the air
and well-suited sporty features. inside the cabin dust free.
When you sit in the cabin you’ll The car features six driving modes
appreciate that the car carries the MG like Auto, Offroad, Snow, Sport, 4L,
legacy as the interior is swanky. Every- and 2H.
thing is a soft touch and the cabin feels In auto mode, the car automatically
very modern with its state-of-the-art detects the terrain and adjusts the car
air vents and 10-inch touch screen. behaviour accordingly. It is recom-
Unlike other cars or even the more mended that one should keep the car
expensive ones they don’t feature such in auto mode and let it do its thing as
a massive screen. Not only is the screen RX8 SUV is a dream to drive over long to tackle any off-road tasks. It also fea- this mode will take care of most things.
very responsive but the colours are viv- distances. The wonderfully comfort- tures seven seats which are a first for A car can never feel luxurious if
id and bright ensuring good daytime able seats as well as a very comfortable the MG. The third-row seat gives you the suspension of the car is stiff and
visibility. driving position made the drive simply the capacity to seat two more passen- mushy. The car felt smooth and luxuri-
This car features eight air vents pleasurable. gers, and can also be folded to give you ous even over potholes and bumps as I
in total, keeping not only the passen- The comfort was aided by the excel- more space for cargo. encountered some of them while pass-
gers nice and cool in the hot summer lent onboard tech making my trip al- The car features a premium interior ing through roads undergoing repair
months but also the whole cabin. The most effortless. The cruise control with using mostly leather and this gives it a works.
AC is divided into two zones — front variable speed limiter did most of the very high-end feel. The dashboard and The car has a high seating posi-
and rear — and can be controlled in- work and touch screen controls made seats mainly use leather with premium tion ensuring clear visibility around
dividually for the passengers’ comfort. things safe and stress-free. stitching. They’ve used faux wood in- you. Pair that with a balanced steering
Usually, a return trip across the There is plenty of grip too, body stead of plastic to give a more premium wheel featuring quite tight turning cir-
country in a day wouldn’t lean is well controlled and the steering look, it actually looks pretty good. cles and you have an SUV that you can
be something I’d look feels nice and direct. If there’s one thing the MG RX8 drive easily.
forward to but The cabin is very well insulated does better than other cars in its seg- The car starts at QR87,000 for the
the MG from wind, road and engine noise ment, it’s the features and this car has base model and comes with six years of
which all adds to the relaxing feel of loads of them. warranty and one free service.
the car. An array of premium materials in- Overall, the MG RX8 SUV takes
The car features a striking de- cluding wood grain and soft-touch trim class honours for me. I really enjoyed
sign with a lot of ground gives the RX8 a high-class feel. And, how it drove and handled and the inte-
clearance modern features such as in-car enter- rior is just marvellous and trumps that
tainment system, ven- of its rivals.You can also read
