Qatar’s 10th annual agricultural exhibition AgriteQ 2023 will begin today – Photo: ILoveQatar.net

Qatar’s 10th annual International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ)  begins today in Doha.
AgriteQ provides a forum for agricultural professionals to exchange ideas about industry trends and new technologies. Established in 2008 as part of Qatar’s strategic goal of long-term food security, the Exhibition is likely to receive greater notice this year on the heels of the World Cup, which brought the oil-rich desert nation greater global attention and scrutiny. As a result, the Qatari government likely views this year’s edition as a critical opportunity for attracting foreign capital into its growing agricultural sector.
Qatari has made considerable progress in advancing its strategic goal of long-term food security, with various government assistance and technological development programs such as helping to resolve the challenges posed by its lack of arable land. Between 2017 and 2019, Qatar achieved a 400% increase in domestic food production and will likely become a food exporter if current trends continue.
Qatar’s success in the agritech sector will likely become an important channel to exercise its soft power, particularly as one of the wealthier nations in the Gulf region and as an important nexus for global commerce. In the medium term, expect Qatar’s government to aggressively pursue greater foreign cooperation on the agricultural front, especially as it seeks to compete with its rival Saudi Arabia.