PM: Qatar enters new phase of sustainable development

DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said yesterday that Qatar has entered a new phase in its journey of sustainable development.

The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the International Products Exhibition and Conference (IPEC 2018) at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

“Qatar received high rankings in the global economic and development indicators in the past few years, and today it commences a new chapter to achieve sustainable development on economic, social, environmental and other levels, through executing many development projects and programs across various sectors, and it also witnesses a significant phase of implementing major development projects, in addition to the 2022 FIFA World Cup related projects,” said the Prime Minister.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers, senior officials and businessmen. The three-day event has attracted more than 360 companies from Qatar and 11 countries including Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan and Azerbaijan.

The Prime Minister said that all the projects are proceeding ahead on stipulated time-line.

“Despite the repercussions of the unjust blockade on Qatar, the implementation of these projects is proceeding according to the set time-lines as a result of the measures taken to deal with the crisis, increasing self-sufficiency of different commodities, fostering cooperation with fraternal and friendly states, and diversifying trade lines between Qatar and countries of the world,” said the Prime Minister.

He said that Qatar has prioritised the process of fostering the business environment, as it has updated the legislative framework, facilitated procedures, provided an advanced infrastructure to encourage local and foreign investments and increase trust in the business environment in the country. “We will continue with developing our capabilities, ensuring that our nation continues to enjoy a decent life, looking to the future with confidence to its leadership and country,” he added.

He praised the role played by the private sector in implementation of Qatar’s national strategies and plans.

“We value the vital role the private sector plays in executing national strategies and plans to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030, and we count on its capabilities and potential as it proved its aptitude for developing many economic sectors of the economy and limiting the repercussions of the unjust blockade on Qatar,” he added.

“We look forward to a wider role for the private sector in managing and carrying out projects, and we will continue to catalyse the it to be the main driver of economic growth and development in the country in the coming period,” he said.

He added that economic and trade cooperation between countries is an important factor for economic growth and contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan, as well as to the formation of bridges of communication to serve the mutual benefits and common interests of States.

After the opening, the Prime Minister toured the exhibition, where he was briefed on the opportunities offered by the participating pavilions in term of investment opportunities in the participating countries, as well as the nature of the projects, partnerships, trade and economic alliances and various incentives provided.

IPEC 2018 is convening international investors and business owners with Qatari private and public bodies to explore global economic challenges, as well as investment and development opportunities in Qatar. The forum also serves to bolster economic relations between nations and business entities and accelerate trade across industries.

In the next two days, the exhibition and conference will highlight current global economic challenges and will discuss opportunities and obstacles facing the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Experts will discuss issues such as managing sustainable economic growth, inter-State economic cooperation, growth and innovation in the travel sector around the world, financing partnerships to promote economic prosperity, and fostering innovation throughout the region through emerging, small and medium-sized enterprises.

By Sachin Kumar I The Peninsula

افتتح معالي الشيخ عبدالله بن ناصر بن خليفة آل ثاني رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الداخلية، صباح أمس، فعاليات معرض ومؤتمر المنتجات الدولي (IPEC 2018)، بمركز الدوحة للمعارض والمؤتمرات.

وأكد معاليه -في كلمة أمام الحضور- أنه على الرغم من تداعيات الحصار الجائر على قطر، فإن عملية تنفيذ المشاريع بالدولة تسير وفق الجدول الزمني المعتمد، بفضل الإجراءات المتخذة للتعامل مع الأزمة، وزيادة الاكتفاء الذاتي من مختلف السلع، وتعزيز علاقات التعاون مع الدول الشقيقة والصديقة، وتنويع خطوط التجارة مع دول العالم.;