Our Response to COVID-19
In these extraordinary times, I am immensely proud of the swift and effective action which Aamal has taken in response to the pandemic which is having such a profound impact on every aspect of all our daily lives.
Naturally, our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers and, to that end, we have implemented social distancing measures across the business, including a transition to remote working for the majority of Aamal employees in accordance with government directives.
The Aamal Board of Directors is full of admiration for the attitude shown by all our employees. They are working tirelessly and have demonstrated exemplary commitment and agility in responding to the new ways of working, while continuing to support our customers at all times.
The effects of COVID-19 have, of course, been felt across the Group. Several of our businesses, however, have been able to launch innovative new services to support Qatari communities. For example, Ebn Sina Healthcare Pharmacy Solutions has helped to launch a new mobile application to facilitate the home delivery of medicines and has also received approval from the Ministry of Health to use its warehouse delivery vans as ‘mobile pharmacies’ to help deliver medicines to homes.
Furthermore, Ebn Sina Medical and Aamal Medical, supported by the COVID-19 Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, are facilitating the home delivery of medicine and (having overcome challenges in receiving shipments from countries in lockdown) have successfully secured local stocks of medicines and essential life-saving medical equipment, as well as baby milk and personal protective equipment such as face masks and hand sanitizers.
We are proud of the efforts of these businesses in supporting Qatar and its communities during these difficult times.
I would also like to thank the Qatari government for its inspiring leadership during this crisis and for the support it has provided to the Qatari economy and private sector, including a QR75bn stimulus package. As has been internationally recognised, this government support has helped Qatar to weather the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well so far.
Looking ahead, the global nature of COVID-19 and the uncertainty around its progression, severity and duration, mean that its impact will be felt well into the second half of this year.
But Aamal has already proved its ability to adapt effectively and with agility to external change and our efforts in this challenging environment are supported by our very robust financial position. We have a strong balance sheet, our gearing is low and we have significant liquidity. Together with the operational resilience and diversity provided by our businesses across the Group, we are well-positioned to navigate through the crisis and to emerge strongly post-COVID-19.
Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani
Chairman
