LuLu Group Chairman Yusuffali MA (centre) during the fourth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum. He is joined by (from left) Indian ambassador Vipul and Dr Mohamed Althaf, Director, LuLu Group International. PICTURE: Thajudheen
Yusuffali was in Qatar recently for the opening ceremony of the Qatar Economic Forum 2024, which gathered more than 1,000 global leaders, CEOs, and 427 government officials from 124 countries.
Speaking to Gulf Times at the forum, Yusuffali said: “Under the dynamic leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar is witnessing progress every day. The country is economically strong and guided by visionary leadership. These are essential elements that any investor, including us, requires.”
He added: “I’m attending Qatar Economic Forum every year. Qatar is a vital market for LuLu Group. We are expanding our footprint in different areas in Qatar: hypermarkets, logistics centres, and the procurement of other hypermarkets in Qatar. These are the three areas that we are concentrating on.”
Explaining this further, Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International, said LuLu Group is on track with its expansion plans in the country, citing the opening of a second outlet in Al Khor, which is in the northern part of Qatar.
Althaf said LuLu Group is keeping a close eye on Qatar’s population growth, particularly in important locations, ensuring the presence of LuLu hypermarkets there. “We are going through the overall development of Qatar. Doha and the rest of the country, including its cities, are expanding, so we are also growing with the population.”
Indian ambassador Vipul also lauded LuLu’s growing presence in Qatar, which he said plays a significant role in the upward trajectory of Qatar-India trade, economic, political, and cultural ties.
He emphasised that India’s exports to Qatar range between “$1.5bn and $2bn at any given year.”
“LuLu is a very important player in terms of promoting India-Qatar trade,” Vipul added.
