I hate monopolies

9 Nov, 2008  Uncategorized

Oh how I despise the monopoly system. Those that know me and have been reading my blog will know that I’m pro competition. It develops, enhances, and improves companies and corporations.

I was suprised when I discovered that a certain company has an exclusive deal with the government with all outdoor media. That means that no other company can advertise outdoors, excluding certain situations. Let me give a few examples of how far this reaches.

1) You OWN a building and want to put an advert on the wall. You can’t. You have to contact the company, let them use your wall and take a cut. In essence, you take a percentage off of your own business.

2) You want to put a street sign up for adverts. You can’t. The company owns the rights to all street ads.

3) You want to put a small sign board arrow, pointing to your hidden shop because it’s in an alley way or behind a building. No you can’t. You have to call the company and ask them to do it. While you’re at it, you have to pay them.

Basically they’ve taken the place of what the Baladiya’s advertisement department should be doing.  They’ve become a mini-authority. *sighs*

If I was in thar particular company’s position and was offered such an exclusivity, I’d snatch it up! Who wouldn’t? But shouldn’t there be safe guards to cause preventative measures when it comes to the abuse of the market?

A few months ago, a company which was appointed by a lead minister and the Emir interviewed me. They asked me why not a lot of Qataris are doing business. My answer then remains unchanged today; “They wont give us the chance.”

I love Qatar and I see the potential within it. The country needs safeguards to prevent a negative affect. I personally would love to open an outdoor marketing company and I would introduce some state of the art technology which would beautify Qatar however as long as the company has the monopoly I guess there’s little I can do.

  • jocelyn

    Hi Mr.Q – I have been reading your blog for a couple months now (just moved to Doha in August) and I’ve been really enjoying it, but this post in particular is really interesting to me. I’m a grad student just starting work on my dissertation on Qatar economics/society and I would love to talk to you about your insight into the monopolies and the idea that some Qataris get to be entrepreneurs while others don’t receive the chance… Can you get in touch with me? Try my email: jocelynsage2004 at yahoo dot com. Looking forward to talking with you!
    - Jocelyn

  • Kei

    Sure thing Jocelyn. I’ll send you an email with my contact details and I’ll answer any questions that I’m able to.

  • jocelyn

    Great, looking forward to hearing from you!

Freedom of Expression

    Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the Qatari Government is a signatory of states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any medias and regardless of any frontiers.

    The Emiri Decision Number 86 of the year 2007 on the establishment of the Doha Free Information Centre marked yet another step towards establishing a State of rights and freedom of speech. The decision stipulated that the Centre be a non-profit organization, headquartered in Doha City, and have the authority to establish other affiliated centres inside and outside Qatar. It is worth mentioning that His Highness the Emir issued a decision in 1998 annulling the ministry of information, giving birth to a new era of freedom of speech where censorship was removed from local media.