ASIF IQBAL

DOHA

AL MEERA Consumer Goods Company’s shopping mall in Ain Khalid will be opened in 2014, and its concept would be replicated in another location north of Doha in the coming years, its vice-chairman has said.

“The bids for the construction of the mall in Ain Khalid is expected to be invited in the second quarter of this year. The 45,000-square-metre mall will have 10,000 square metre hypermarket that will house electronic and furniture stores,” Al Meera Vice-Chairman Saif Said al Sowaidi said. He was speaking at the annual general meeting of the company, in Doha, on Monday.

Talking about other projects, Sowaidi said the company plans to launch tenders for the construction of two branches of Al Meera in Jeryan Nejaima and Mureikh soon.

Giving an update on the Nauija branch, Sowaidi said the Nauija project would represent a qualitative shift in the design of commercial centres and corporate branches. “Construction of Nauija branch is expected to be complete by the end of this year,” Sowaidi added.

According to Sowaidi, the company has concluded a contract with a national engineering firm to design six branches in Al Aziziya, Al Khor, Al Wajba, Al Wakra, Al Maizer and Al Rawdat Al Dima to expand the footprint of the company in the country.

He said the company signed a contract with a specialised international company to carry out engineering designs for Hazm Al Markhiya branch, which is to be demolished and reconstructed to meet the highest level of standards by expanding the retail space and increasing the amount of parking spaces for vehicles.

Commenting on overseas expansion, Sowaidi said the company was working towards signing and activating agreements to operate in other Arab countries.

“We are making efforts to conduct Al Meera’s business outside Qatar in cooperation with private and public Qatari establishments,” he said.

“Al Meera has also restructured to facilitate the company’s franchise and joint venture activities with local and international companies and establishments,” he said.