CMC, Job well done for new shops on low rent
Central Municipal Committee (CMC) has finally been successful in convincing the decision makers to earmark new shopping areas in and around Doha, in order to help small businesses come out of their losses and debts, that has been piling up on them by high shop rents.
Unfortunately, the supply side of new shops was controlled by mainly Barwa Real Estate, who enjoyed monopoly and forced the shop rents go higher by minimum 4 times in the last just a few years.
This was well realized by CMC whose request to open up new shops in the private sector has now been accepted thus ending the monopoly of only one real estate company.
Honestly, if the country wants small businesses to grow then they need to come out with far bigger plans for creating new shop zones away from Doha city, like, Abu Nakhla, Saliya, Um Salal, Half way Al Khor, Wakrah and Mmsaieed etc.
Moreover there is a need to make shopping markets in box shape like USA, instead of their opening on the roads and streets, which would help ease up the traffic, parking pressure and city congestion.
Barwa did a good job in reshaping the old shops on modern lines, yet in this process, they helped jack up the rental phenomenally and quickly that is now in nobody's control. If someone takes a holistic view of the impact of higher rents on the small businesses across the country, it would reveal the truth where hundreds of have lost the ground. Without any offense, asking a few of small traders can honestly bring to light the facts, and it is always good to give a realist picture to the decision makers so that they could make market and business friendly decisions which would definitely be beneficial for everyone.
The CMC is just allowing allowing commercial activity to take place in areas where currently the zoning prevents it.
What's to stop Barwa being the company that builds and rents the shops in the new area?
And has it ever occurred to you that the reason the government demolished all the small shops and then allowed Barwa to build so many new shops is because Barwa is government owned?
Good intiative ......
Thu, 12.12.2013, 09.00 hrs